Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Elephant

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since the 15th century. With a population of around 525,000, it is the second largest city in Scotland after Glasgow. The city is a cultural centre, and is the home of institutions including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Museum of Scotland was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum. Both parts of the museum are located right next to each other on Chambers Street. The Royal Museum is a museum of natural sciences, technology and art. It is housed in a building dating from 1888. The Museum of Scotland deals with Scottish history and culture. It is located in a new building completed in 1998 right next to the 1888 building. Model elephant, dabbed glaze, inscribed "Father´s Tobacco 1902"

Inverness was one of the main strongholds of the Picts and was visited in 565 by St Columban of Iona, intending to convert the Pictish king Brude I. A church with a small monastery complex had already been founded by early Celtic monks on St Michael's Mount. The castle above the city was built by King Malcolm III, eldest son of Duncan I. The reign of King Duncan I was marked by the conflict with his cousin Macbeth. All that is known is that Duncan I was killed by Macbeth in the battle near Elgin. In Shakespeare's account, however, Macbeth killed Duncan I in Inverness Castle and Malcolm III is said to have avenged his father's death by destroying the castle in order to build a new castle on its site. The city of Inverness was attacked several times by residents of the Hebrides. In 1187, Donald Bane led the enemy islanders in the Battle of Torvean against the men from Inverness Castle led by Duncan Mackintosh. Both were killed in the battle. Further battles against the MacDonald clan are documented in 1340, 1411 and 1427. In 1554, the Munro clan defeated the Mackintosh clan at the Battle of Clachnaharry west of the city. The MacDonald clan and their allies stormed Inverness Castle in 1491. In 1562, the Queen of Scotland Mary Stuart was denied access to the city by the English governor during the Huntly Rebellion. The Munro and Fraser clans then took the castle for her. The foundation stone for the Inverness Town House was laid in 1878. It was designed in the neoGothic style and was officially opened in 1882. The town's coat of arms carved into a panel on the first floor. The coat of arms is supported by an elephant and a camel, a reminder of Inverness' foreign trade links.

In 74 BC, the Roman city was founded by Pompejus on the site of a local settlement. The city served to secure the Pyrenees crossing from Roncesvalles. Pamplona was destroyed several times in the course of its history: 466 by the Visigoths, 542 by the Franks, 778 by Charlemagne, 924 by Abd ar-Rahman III and in 1521 during the Franco-Spanish War by troops of Francis I. Its location on the Way of St. James from France gave the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre a boom in the 11th century. With the division of Navarre, the city ultimately came to Spain. After the conquest of the country and its incorporation into Castile in 1512-1515, Pamplona became one of the outposts of the Spanish crown on the French border. Its mission for 300 years was to secure the border against a possible invasion from France. Fortifications and walls were a vital system of defense, but at the same time prevented the city from expanding. The museum is located in the old hospital “Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia de Pamplona” from the 16th century. However, only the facade with the main entrance and the former chapel remain of the hospital. The Leyre Casket (Arqueta de Leyre) This is one of the jewels of Hispano-Arab Islamic art. The casket was carved during the Caliphate of Cordoba. The year of production is given as 395 AH (1004/1005 CE).  The casket was produced for ʿAbd al-Malik, political and military leader of the caliphate from 1002 to 1008. ʿAbd al-Malik is best known for being the son of Almanzor, vizier of Hisham II, but also military leader and strong politician of the caliphate. At some point, as Christian kingdoms raided or conquered al-Andalus, the casket came into Christian hands and was donated to the Monastery of Leyre (from which it takes its name).  At Leyre the casket was repurposed as a reliquary to hold the remains of Saints Nunilo and Alodia, believed to have been executed as apostates during persecutions of Christians by ʿAbd al-Raḥman II, emir of Cordoba, on the mid-ninth century. The casket was later held by the Church of Santa María la Real in Sangüesa and the Treasury of the Cathedral of Pamplona. A detail - Elephants

York was already an important centre in Roman times, when it was known under the name of Eboracum. The Vikings, who took over the area later from the Angels , in turn adapted the name to Norse Jórvík. After the Anglian settlement York was first capital of Deira and later Northumbria, and by the early 7th century, York was an important royal centre for the Northumbrian kings. Following the Norman Conquest York was substantially damaged in response to regional revolt. Two castles were erected in the city on either side of the River Ouse. In time York became an important urban centre as the administrative centre of the county of Yorkshire, as the seat of an archbishop, and at times in the later 13th and 14th centuries as an alternative seat of royal government. It was an important trading centre. York prospered during much of the later medieval era; the later years of the 14th and the earlier years of the 15th centuries were characterised by particular prosperity. During the English Civil War, the city was regarded as a Royalist stronghold and was besieged and eventually captured by Parliamentary forces under Lord Fairfax in 1644. After the war, York retained its pre-eminence in the North, and, by 1660, was the third-largest city in England after London and Norwich. A bishop of York was summoned to the Council of Arles in 314, indicating the presence of a Christian community in York at this time. The present church had at least three predecessors. The first church, mentioned by Beda was a wooden structure built in 627 to provide a place to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria. In 741 the existing cathedral was damaged or destroyed, possibly in a fire. The cathedral then passed through the hands of numerous invaders, along with the rest of the city, and its history is unclear until the 10th century. There were a number of Benedictine archbishops, who travelled to Westminster to crown William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1069, a revolt in support of Edgar Ætheling sparked a brutal crackdown. William the Conquerors troops devastated the town and the minster. Later that year, Danish invaders supporting the Ætheling, attacked the town, starting a fire and burning the cathedral to the ground. The first Norman archbishop, Thomas of Bayeux, who arrived in 1070, apparently organised repairs, but in 1075 another Danish force sailed up the river and sacked the minster. Construction of the Norman cathedral began in 1080 and was completed in 1100. Built in the Norman style, the new cathedral was 360 feet (111 m) long. When Walter de Grey was appointed archbishop in 1215, he ordered the construction of a Gothic structure to rival Canterbury. Construction began in 1220. The north and south transepts were the first new structures, completed in the 1250s. Both were built in the early Gothic style, but had noticeably different wall heights. A massive central tower with a wooden spire was also completed. Construction continued into the 15th century. The chapter house was started in the 1260s and was completed before 1296. The wide nave was built on Norman foundations from the 1280s. The external roof was completed in the 1330s, but the vaulting was not completed until 1360. Construction then moved on to the east wing and chapels. The Norman chancel was demolished in the 1390s. In 1407 the central tower collapsed. The pillars were then reinforced and a new tower was built in 1420. The western towers were added between 1433 and 1472. In 1472 the cathedral was declared finished and consecrated. The English Reformation led to the looting of much of the cathedral's treasures. Under Elizabeth I there was a concerted effort to remove all traces of Roman Catholicism from the cathedral; there was much destruction of tombs, windows and altars. In the English Civil War the city was besieged and fell to the forces of Cromwell in 1644, but it was prevented any further damage to the cathedral. On 9 July 1984 a blaze caused severe destruction to the south transept. Believed to have been started by a lightning strike, the roof burnt for three hours before it was made to collapse by the fire brigade to stop it spreading to other parts of the minster. It took over £2.25 million to repair the damage, and a rededication ceremony was held in October 1988. Hindūstān (Hindoostan) is a name for India, broadly referring to the Indian subcontinent. So this is probably connected to the Duke of Wellington Regiment (prev upload). -

York was already an important centre in Roman times, when it was known under the name of Eboracum. The Vikings, who took over the area later from the Angels , in turn adapted the name to Norse Jórvík. After the Anglian settlement York was first capital of Deira and later Northumbria, and by the early 7th century, York was an important royal centre for the Northumbrian kings. Following the Norman Conquest York was substantially damaged in response to regional revolt. Two castles were erected in the city on either side of the River Ouse. In time York became an important urban centre as the administrative centre of the county of Yorkshire, as the seat of an archbishop, and at times in the later 13th and 14th centuries as an alternative seat of royal government. It was an important trading centre. York prospered during much of the later medieval era; the later years of the 14th and the earlier years of the 15th centuries were characterised by particular prosperity. During the English Civil War, the city was regarded as a Royalist stronghold and was besieged and eventually captured by Parliamentary forces under Lord Fairfax in 1644. After the war, York retained its pre-eminence in the North, and, by 1660, was the third-largest city in England after London and Norwich. A bishop of York was summoned to the Council of Arles in 314, indicating the presence of a Christian community in York at this time. The present church had at least three predecessors. The first church, mentioned by Beda was a wooden structure built in 627 to provide a place to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria. In 741 the existing cathedral was damaged or destroyed, possibly in a fire. The cathedral then passed through the hands of numerous invaders, along with the rest of the city, and its history is unclear until the 10th century. There were a number of Benedictine archbishops, who travelled to Westminster to crown William the Conqueror in 1066. In 1069, a revolt in support of Edgar Ætheling sparked a brutal crackdown. William the Conquerors troops devastated the town and the minster. Later that year, Danish invaders supporting the Ætheling, attacked the town, starting a fire and burning the cathedral to the ground. The first Norman archbishop, Thomas of Bayeux, who arrived in 1070, apparently organised repairs, but in 1075 another Danish force sailed up the river and sacked the minster. Construction of the Norman cathedral began in 1080 and was completed in 1100. Built in the Norman style, the new cathedral was 360 feet (111 m) long. When Walter de Grey was appointed archbishop in 1215, he ordered the construction of a Gothic structure to rival Canterbury. Construction began in 1220. The north and south transepts were the first new structures, completed in the 1250s. Both were built in the early Gothic style, but had noticeably different wall heights. A massive central tower with a wooden spire was also completed. Construction continued into the 15th century. The chapter house was started in the 1260s and was completed before 1296. The wide nave was built on Norman foundations from the 1280s. The external roof was completed in the 1330s, but the vaulting was not completed until 1360. Construction then moved on to the east wing and chapels. The Norman chancel was demolished in the 1390s. In 1407 the central tower collapsed. The pillars were then reinforced and a new tower was built in 1420. The western towers were added between 1433 and 1472. In 1472 the cathedral was declared finished and consecrated. The English Reformation led to the looting of much of the cathedral's treasures. Under Elizabeth I there was a concerted effort to remove all traces of Roman Catholicism from the cathedral; there was much destruction of tombs, windows and altars. In the English Civil War the city was besieged and fell to the forces of Cromwell in 1644, but it was prevented any further damage to the cathedral. On 9 July 1984 a blaze caused severe destruction to the south transept. Believed to have been started by a lightning strike, the roof burnt for three hours before it was made to collapse by the fire brigade to stop it spreading to other parts of the minster. It took over £2.25 million to repair the damage, and a rededication ceremony was held in October 1988. The first Duke of Wellington died in 1852 and the following year, in recognition of the regiment's long association with him, Queen Victoria ordered that the regiment's name be changed to the 33rd or Duke of Wellington's Regiment. In 1881, the regiment was joined to the 76th Infantry Regiment, which had been raised by the Honourable East India Company in 1787 for service in India. The two regiments became the 1st and 2nd Battalions respectively of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

A legend attributes Kraków's founding to the mythical ruler Krakus, who built it above a cave occupied by a dragon, Smok Wawelski. The first written record dates to 965, when Kraków was described as a notable commercial center captured by a Bohemian duke Boleslaus I in 955. The first ruler of Poland, Mieszko I, took Kraków from the Bohemians. In 1038, Kraków became the seat of the Polish government. By the end of the 10th century, the city was a center of trade. Brick buildings were constructed, including the Royal Wawel Castle. The city was sacked and burned during the Mongol invasion of 1241. It was rebuilt and incorporated in 1257 by Bolesław V the Chaste who introduced city rights. In 1259, the city was again ravaged by the Mongols. The third attack in 1287 was repelled thanks in part to the newly built fortifications. The city rose to prominence in 1364, when Casimir III founded the University of Kraków, the second oldest university in central Europe. But after Casimir´s death in 1370 the campus did not get completed. As the capital of the Kingdom of Poland and a member of the Hanseatic League, the city attracted craftsmen from abroad, guilds as science and the arts began to flourish. The 15th and 16th centuries are known as Poland's "Złoty Wiek" (Golden Age). After childless King Sigismund II had died in 1572, the Polish throne passed to Henry III of France and then to other foreign-based rulers in rapid succession, causing a decline in the city's importance that was worsened by pillaging during the Swedish invasion and by an outbreak of bubonic plague that left 20,000 of the city's residents dead. In 1596, Sigismund III of the House of Vasa moved the capital of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from Kraków to Warsaw. - The Golden Elephant guards the chocolate store and the cake and ice cream seller.

The baroque drawing was made in the sgraffito technique. The drawing depicts Hanken, a female elephant. The sgraffito was created in 1639, as then a circus came to Trzebiatów. Its main attraction was an elephant that could pick up money from the ground, shoot from a musket, march and fence with a rapier. One of the inhabitants of Trzebiatów had this event immortalized on the facade of his house. Later the work was covered by a layer of plaster. It was rediscovered in 1914 during the renovation of the house.The drwaing is about 3 metres high. Hansken, born in 1630 in Ceylon, was brought to Holland in 1637. Hansken toured fairs in the Netherlands and Germany and was a kind of showstar. Rembrandt saw her and made four sketches of her. In 1651, Hansken travelled from Switzerland to Rome. On the way back from Rome, the elephant died in Florence in 1655. The skeleton of Hansken is still preserved in Florence at Museo della Specola.

The area around the modern Altamura (pop 70.000) was inhabited in early times. There are Bronze Age tumuli and between the 6th and the 3rd century BC a massive line of megalithic walls was erected. This (later Roman) city was inhabited until the 10th century when it was reportedly looted by Saracens. A couple of centuries after Altamura was reportedly looted by the Saracens, it started to be inhabited again as Emperor Frederick II refounded the city (1232) and ordered the construction of the large Altamura Cathedral, which became one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Apulia. Altamura was ruled by various feudal families, including the Orsini del Balzo and the Farnese (1538–1734), the latter responsible for the construction of numerous palaces and churches. In the past, Altamura also had a large castle, whose construction dated back to the 11th-13th century, which has been completely demolished. Altamura Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) was founded by Emperor Frederick II in 1232. In 1248, under pressure from Frederick, Pope Innocent IV declared Altamura exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bari, making it a "palatine church", that is the equivalent of a palace chapel. After heavy damage caused by an earthquake in 1316, it was renovated by Robert of Anjou. Major changes were made to the cathedral in 1534, including switching the front and back around! The cathedral's main facade originally faced west but it now faces east. The facade is fascinating. It has the "Romanesque/Gothic" main portal, the Gothic rose window and beside a number of older Romanesque works. There are two elephants here. They slightly differ. the elephant, who does not support a column (any more) seem to be more relaxed. Both have lost their teeth.

The area around the modern Altamura (pop 70.000) was inhabited in early times. There are Bronze Age tumuli and between the 6th and the 3rd century BC a massive line of megalithic walls was erected. This (later Roman) city was inhabited until the 10th century when it was reportedly looted by Saracens. A couple of centuries after Altamura was reportedly looted by the Saracens, it started to be inhabited again as Emperor Frederick II refounded the city (1232) and ordered the construction of the large Altamura Cathedral, which became one of the most venerated sanctuaries in Apulia. Altamura was ruled by various feudal families, including the Orsini del Balzo and the Farnese (1538–1734), the latter responsible for the construction of numerous palaces and churches. In the past, Altamura also had a large castle, whose construction dated back to the 11th-13th century, which has been completely demolished. Altamura Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) was founded by Emperor Frederick II in 1232. In 1248, under pressure from Frederick, Pope Innocent IV declared Altamura exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Bari, making it a "palatine church", that is the equivalent of a palace chapel. After heavy damage caused by an earthquake in 1316, it was renovated by Robert of Anjou. Major changes were made to the cathedral in 1534, including switching the front and back around! The cathedral's main facade originally faced west but it now faces east. The facade is fascinating. It has the "Romanesque/Gothic" main portal, the Gothic rose window and beside a number of older Romanesque works. Here are two elephants. Elephants are a rare "medieval species" in Europe, but they can often be found in Apulia. As Emperor Frederick II, who owned the "Cremona Elephant" founded this church, they may stand as a symbol of his imperial power.

Otranto occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. It gained importance in Roman times, as it was the nearest port to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. After the end of the Roman Empire, it was in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it surrendered to the Norman troops of Robert Guiscard in 1068. The Normans fortified the city and built the cathedral, that got consecrated in 1088. When Henry VI., son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, married Constanze of Sicily in 1186 Otranto came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen and later in the hands of Ferdinand I of Aragón, King of Naples. Between 1480 and 1481 the "Ottoman invasion" took place here. Troops of the Ottoman Empire invaded and laid siege to the city and its citadel. Legends tell that more than 800 inhabitants were beheaded after the city was captured. The "Martyrs of Otranto" are still celebrated in Italy, their skulls are on display in the cathedral. A year later the Ottoman garrison surrendered the city following a siege by Christian forces and the intervention of Papal forces. - Otranto had been one of the last Byzantine strongholds in Apulia, but finally Robert Guiscard could take it. It had probably been such a stronghold, as Otranto had hosted an autocephalous bishopric, only dependent of the patriarchal see of Byzantium since 968. So (Roman) Catholicism had to perform something "convincing" for the so long (Byzantine) Orthodox christians. One was to erect a huge church. The Otranto Cathedral was erected, over ruins of a Paleo-christian church from 1080 on and was consecrated in 1088. It is 54 metres long by 25 metres wide and is built on 42 monolithic granite and marble columns. I had come to Otranto, to see the mosaic. I had planned to stay one night in Otranto, I spent three nights - and still had not seen all the details. I was so overwhelmed, that I took hundreds of photos, but the mosaic is "endless". I will upload only a couple. It was created by a monk named Pantaleon and his workshop between 1163 and 1165. Pantaleon lived at the monastery San Nicola di Casole, located a few kilometres south of Otranto. The mosaic covers the nave, both aisles, the apse and the presbytery. This sums up to a total of 1596 m². About 10 000000 (10 million!) "tesserae" were used. There are scholars, who have counted up to 700 different "stories", that are told here. Though, these "stories" are often disputed, as today's interpretations are mostly very "vague". German historian Carl Arnold Willemsen published the most important book about the mosaic in Italian " L'enigma di Otranto", that since the 1970s is translated in many languages. I followed his theories. As the church is a parish church, there are benches placed on the mosaic floor. Only for the Sunday service, the ropes are open so that the parishioners can reach the benches. I stayed up to Sunday to mix with the locals. The head of an elephant between the benches! But it does not connect to an elephant´s body. It is the head of chimaera. All three heads seen here belong to one body!

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa. Romualdus´ style is strongly influenced by Byzantine works. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari. Here is the signature, mentioning the commisioner and the artist "URSO PRECEPTOR ROMOALDUS AD HEC FUIT ACTOR" Bishop Urso btw was later captured by the Muslims, converted to Islam and was murdered in 1089.

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa, who was murdered in 1089. Romualdus´ style is strongly influenced by Byzantine works. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari. Seen here on the side is the "signature", that mentions the commissioner and the artist.

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa, who was murdered in 1089. Romualdus´ style is strongly influenced by Byzantine works. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari.

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa, who was murdered in 1089. Romualdus´ style is strongly influenced by Byzantine works. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari.

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa, who was murdered in 1089. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari.

Legends tell, that the Homeric hero Diomedes founded "Canusion", the town existed already in early Etrscian times and later became a Greek polis. In Roman times it was a colony and had a large amphitheatre. End of the 3rd century it was the capital of Apulia and Calabria. Bishops are known here already in the 4th century, when one of them took part in a Council. The area suffered from Muslim invasions and got completely destroyed in 844. Rebuilding took place a century later, It was under Lombardian rule until the Norman conquest and the establishement of the Kingdom of Sicily. Under Bohemund I of Antioch (+ 1111), son of Robert Guiscard, it regained some of its earlier importance. The Cathedral of San Sabino was founded in the 8th century by the Lombards. When it was comleted in 1101 it was named after St. Sabinus of Canosa in 1101. It was an example of Romanesque/Byzantine style. After the earthquake of 1851, the cathedral was severely damaged and the restoration work led to the reconstruction of the facade. Placed in the centre of the apsis is the Bishop´s thone ("cathedra"), another medieval masterwork. It was created by Master Romualdus for Bishop Ursus, the last Archbishop of Canosa, who was murdered in 1089. Th cathedra is to large to be "comfortable" and the front plate with the eagles was probably added later. When Bishop Ursus comissioned it, the diocese of Bari was slowly "overtaking" the older one in Canosa. So later this the large cathedra became a kind of episcopal power symbol, as the bishop did not reside here any more, but in Bari.