Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Nixe

The "Église Sainte-Foy de Sélestat" was built in only 10 years between 1170 and 1180, succeeding an earlier ("Holy Sepulcre")church from around 1085 built by Hildegard von Egisheim. Of this church only the crypt and some carvings remained. Hildegard´s famous grandson Frederick I Barbarossa funded the construction of this new church, that was the center of a benedictine monastery, affiliated to the abbey St. Foy in Conques. Outside all around the main and the right apse runs a lombard band with carved capitals, Under the roofs here are corbels. I had taken (and uploaded) a photo of this mermaid some months ago, but then Paul G.M. asked be about the lateral carvings - and I had no photos of them. So this time, I was more carefully. This is the left lateral side, depicting a man, using a pitchfork or shovel digging. He obviously is a farmer, preparing the soil for planting. Farmer was a very usual profession in medieval times. The man is naked. This is not an individuum, but stand as a symbol for "all farmers", what means for a commoner. Do not be disturbed by the mermaid ( = lust and sin). Concentrate on your work. The posture of the farmer shows, that he is concentrated. Note that the hand of the mermaid really goes all around the tail. The fingers on the back can only seen from this angle

The "Église Sainte-Foy de Sélestat" was built in only 10 years between 1170 and 1180, succeeding an earlier ("Holy Sepulcre")church from around 1085 built by Hildegard von Egisheim. Of this church only the crypt and some carvings remained. Hildegard´s famous grandson Frederick I Barbarossa funded the construction of this new church, that was the center of a benedictine monastery, affiliated to the abbey St. Foy in Conques. Outside all around the main and the right apse runs a lombard band with carved capitals, Under the roofs here are corbels. I had taken (and uploaded) a photo of this mermaid already some months ago. Paul G.M. had asked me about the lateral carvings - and I had no photos of them, but realised, that these surroundings could be very interesting. So this time, I was more vigilant - as the lateral sides of the mermaid are very interesting. Here is the same mermaid - in summer. www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/4930611490/in/photos...

The "Église Sainte-Foy de Sélestat" was built in only 10 years between 1170 and 1180, succeeding an earlier ("Holy Sepulcre")church from around 1085 built by Hildegard von Egisheim. Of this church only the crypt and some carvings remained. Hildegard´s famous grandson Frederick I Barbarossa funded the construction of this new church, that was the center of a benedictine monastery, affiliated to the abbey St. Foy in Conques. Outside all around the main and the right apse runs a lombard band with carved capitals, Under the roofs here are corbels. I had taken (and uploaded) a photo of this mermaid some months ago, but then Paul G.M. asked be about the lateral carvings - and I had no photos of them. So this time, I was more carefully. Robert Will, author of "Alsace romane" (Éditions Zodiaque), who describes these carvings as of "lower artistic value" connects this carving to an illustration of the "Physiologus", a very common medieval bestiary. Around 1170 the "Physiologus" even got translated into local Alemannic in Hirsau (150kms southeast). One copy from the 9th century is the "Bern Physiologus", where I found the illustration, that Robert WIll probably had in mind. This illustration depicts two men rowing a boat - and catching pearls with the help of a swimming woman. This woman is naked - but she clearly has two legs, so this woman is not a mermaid. Here is an illustration: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:77-Fisiologo_di_Berna_-_rappor... The influence of the Physiologus during medieval times can hardly underestimated, but here, I think it is just "farmer - mermaid - fisher". And "farmer" and "fisher" stand for the common population of a town or village of that time. Here is general wikipedia-information about the "Physiologus" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiologus

The priory of Anzy-le-Duc was founded 876. When Hugues de Poitier, one of the founders, died here in the "odeur" of sanctity (930) the first pilgrims started to head for this place. The church (used as a parish church today, dedicated to the Assumption), was erected 1180 - 1230, when great numbers of pilgrims met here. The layout of the church is similar to the (ruined) church of nearby Charlieu: a basilica with a transept and five apses. During the Wars of Religion Huguenots destroyed the tomb of St. Hugh and in 1594 the church was set on fire. After the priory was dissolved in 1789 the church was sold and abandoned, before the villagers used it as a parish church in the early 19th century. The church in Anzy-le-Duc is known for it´s richness of carvings, and so it is probably the finest example of romanesque art in the Southern Burgundy. The carvings are remarkable for their workmanship, though they may differ in quality. Six different masters (or workshops) can be found, differing in style - and in themes and designs. Í will resist to upload all photos I took. A corbel. A sunbathing mermaid holding her tail. In 2000 German historian Matthias Hamann published two volumes titled "Die burgundische Prioratskirche von Anzy-le-Duc und die romanische Plastik im Brionnais", totalling more than 600 pages (and 599 pics). Here is an abstract in French and English: www.uni-muenster.de/Fruehmittelalter/Projekte/Cluny/BiblC...