Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: martyr

Isolated, surrounded by an old graveyard, near the village of Valcabrère (pop. ~150) stands the extraordinary Basilica Saint-Just, erected within the 11th and 12th century for the pilgrims walking the "Chemin du Piemont". The basilica is only about half an hour walk east of the Cathedral of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, the seat of an ancient diocese. In Roman time the area was densely populated and the settlement may have had about 30.000 inhabitants, before it got looted by the Vandals within the 5th century. When the building process of the Basilica started, there were still lots of Roman ruins around. These older material got reused here. The portal of the basilica has impressive carvings. Four lifesize jamb statues flank the entrance. Three men (of which two hold a book) and one woman. All are standing on hellish creatures. Above their heads are very large and elaborate capitals. Here are the heads of the two jamb statues of the left right - and the capitals above them. I am sure, that 800 years ago anybody knew, what is seen on the capitals... I see on the very left a saddled horse, and small angel, a (strong) person carrying a load on his shoulder and a (female?) person with a walking stick. On the right capital a person is tied up to a pillar with a rope. The person right to him holds a sword. Another martyr?

Isolated, surrounded by an old graveyard, near the village of Valcabrère (pop. ~150) stands the extraordinary Basilica Saint-Just, erected within the 11th and 12th century for the pilgrims walking the "Chemin du Piemont". The basilica is only about half an hour walk east of the Cathedral of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, the seat of an ancient diocese. In Roman time the area was densely populated and the settlement may have had about 30.000 inhabitants, before it got looted by the Vandals within the 5th century. When the building process of the Basilica started, there were still lots of Roman ruins around. These older material got reused here. The portal of the basilica has impressive carvings. Four lifesize jamb statues flank the entrance. Three men (of which two hold a book) and one woman. All are standing on hellish creatures. Above their heads are very large and elaborate capitals. Here are the (nicely combed) heads of the two jamb statues of the left side - and the capitals above them. Seen on the capitals are to martyrdoms. On the left somebody gets decapitated, while on the right the stoning of Saint Stephen is seen.

San Bartolomé is the oldest church of Logroño. The construction dates back to the 12th century. Though it got altered largely in the 16th century, the Romanesque structure is still visible. During the time of "La Desamortización", when mid 19th century many monastic properties got sold, the church was used as a warehouse and workshop. It was even discussed to demolish the building. The porch was created in the 13th century. The church is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew, one of the 12 apostle, who as the legend tells was a missionary to Persia, India, Egypt and Armenia, where he was martyred. Bartholomew was tortured. In the scene here he is gets skinned. The three female figures holding the table stand for lust (Luxuria!), vanity (hat) and laziness Further right (dead) Bartolomew preaches to a crowd. He carries his own skin on the shoulder. The skin of an arm and a hand are near the knee.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! Here two martyrs holding a book (the bible) and a palm leaf. Palm leaves are only given to martyrs. As he does hold a book (and no stones) this martyr cannot be Saint Stephen. The right martyr wears a crown - and between the mandorlas is the head of an angel.

A priory, dependent from the (once important) Benedictian abbey Saint-Sauveur de Charroux existed here since the 12th century. At that time Saint-Martin was erected as the church for the priory. The church got enlarged and vaulted in the 13th and 14th century, but during the Wars of Religion (1562–1598), the structure got severely damaged, so that the ceiling and the crossing dome collapsed. The imposant western facade with the large archivolts survived the attacks. The priory was sold after the French Revolution and all buildings, but the church, got demolished. Today Saint-Martin serves as the parish church of the small village. The main portal in the architectural style, that is typical for the Saintonge. Two blind arches flank the larger arch / doors. There is no central tympanum, but a multitude of archivolts. A detail from the main archivolt. A large martyr in a blessing gesture, but not holdung the branch of a palm, but an axe, the tool he was martyred with. To the right a child (= soul) devoured by a horrible, evil creature.