Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Cremona Elephant

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The construction of the octogonal "Cremona Baptistery" next to the Cathedral started in 1167. At that time the cathedral was not completed. The baptistery measures 34 meters in height and 20.50 meters in diameter. During the time of the Renaissance some alterations were done. One was to cover the bare brick walls with white marble. This was started, but never completed.

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today. School trip to the cathedral in December

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today. Details of the cathedral façade.

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today. Details of the cathedral façade. The signs of the zodiac / The labours of the month.

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today. Details of the cathedral façade

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the high bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today.

Cremona, located on the left bank of the Po river, was founded by the Romans as a military outpost against the local Celtic tribes. Cremona grew into a large town in 69 AD, when it was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Vespasian, fighting to install him as Emperor against his rival Vitellius. Cremona was rebuilt, but it seems to have failed to regain its former prosperity. When the Lombards invaded Italy in the 6th century, Cremona was a Byzantine stronghold as part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 603 Cremona was conquered by the Lombard King Agilulf and again destroyed, rebuilt in 615, and ruled by Lombard dukes. Cremona is first mentioned in a document of 1098, by which the city received a territory as a fief from the Margravine Matilda of Canossa. In the war of the Lombard League against Frederick Barbarossa, Cremona, after having participated in the destruction of Crema in 1160 and Milan in 1162, finally joined the League. In the conflicts between the Ghibellines and the Guelfs, Cremona, sided with the Ghibellines. Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made a triumphal procession in Cremona in 1237, showing off his elephant. This animal is known today as the "Cremona Elephant". With the final downfall of the Hohenstaufen, the Guelfs came to power in Cremona. The city rebelled against King Henry VII in 1311, but eventually surrendered; it was deprived of many rights on Henry's orders, and the city fortifications were demolished. Finally, Cremona was taken possession of by Galeazzo I Visconti in 1322. The foundation stone was laid in 1107, but 10 years later the construction collapsed due to an earthquake. It was not until 1129 that a new building was started. The cathedral was consecrated in 1190. At this time, the church did not yet have its present shape. The façade was not completed until the 15th century. The redesign of the narthex replaced a simpler wooden connection between the cathedral and the high bell tower. It gave the piazza the appearance that is roughly the same as today.

Bitonto, today a city of a population of about 55000, was probably founded by Greek settlers. Traces of a city wall dating to the 5th and 4th century BC were found. Legends tell that the name Bitonto is connected to an Illyrian king named Botone. Later "Civitas Butuntinenses" became a self-governing Roman municipium, A Paleochristian basilica existed very early. During the 9th century, Bitonto successfully withstood a Saracen raid but got destroyed by Byzantine troops in 975. The Normans took over Apulia. In the 11th and 12th century. Under the rule of the Normans of Roger II of Sicily, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked) and William II of Sicily (aka William the Good), the city prospered and got new walls. In 1227, Bitonto was the scene of ex-communication of Frederick II accused by pope Gregory IX of having come to terms with the sultan al-Malik al-Kamil. - The Bitonto Cathedral, dedicated to San Valentino, was erected 1175/1200 in the centre of the city. The construction was probably influenced by the "Basilica of San Nicola" in Bari and was done in the typical "Apulian Romanesque" style. It is proven that the bishopric existed in 1089, though the crypt of the cathedral has remains of a 5th-century church. There are three portals. The central one has a double archivolt, that is densely populated with animal and vegetable figures. I have tilted the photo by 90°, to give a better impression of this elephant. Emperor Frederick II was the owner of the "Cremona Elephant", a present he had received from Al-Kamil. The "Cremona Elephant" was the second elephant in Europe after Roman times. The first was Charlemagnes "Abul Abbas". Frederick II presented the "Cremona Elephant" in his triumph parades. As this elephant is anatomically pretty precise - it is probably the Cremona Elephant.

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138. The large crypt dates back to the 10th century, as it is known, that the relics of San Zeno were transferred in 921. This flight of stairs runs down to the crypt from the central nave, but the both aisles have stairs, too as the crypt is as wide as the church. The arches have interesting friezes. They were created by Adamino von San Giorgio, who left his signature. The friezes are populated with many fanciful and monstrous animals. Here is - an elephant! I did not find the elephant during my first visit to Verona, though - Verona is only about 100 kms north east of Cremona, where an elephant, known as "Cremona Elephant" is proven. The elephant had been a gift to Frederick II from Sultan Al-Kamil in 1229. The elephant was used by Frederick II in his triumph parades. It is depicted in the "Chronica Majora": annonetheelephant.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/cremona.jpg

Already Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, may have funded a church, erected over the tomb of Saint Zeno, who, following the legends, was born in Mauretania and died around 380 in Verona. The erection of the present church began in the 9th century. Soon after San Zeno´s relics were translated into the new church. At that time Charlemagne´s son Pepin (aka "Pepin of Italy") resided in Verona and a large Benedictine monastery grew all around the church. When the Magyars invaded Italy in the early 10th century, the church got severely damaged, but the relics were not harmed, as they had been taken out and were hidden. In 967, a new church was built with the patronage of Otto I. On January 3, 1117, the church was damaged by an earthquake, that ruined so many buildings in Northern Italy. The church was restored and got enlarged in 1138. The large crypt dates back to the 10th century, as it is known, that the relics of San Zeno were transferred in 921. A flight of stairs runs down to the crypt from the central nave. Both aisles have stairs, too as the crypt is as wide as the church. The arches have interesting friezes. They were created by Adamino von San Giorgio, who left his signature. The friezes are populated with many fanciful and monstrous animals. Here is - an elephant! I did not find the elephant during my first visit to Verona, though - Verona is only about 100 kms north east of Cremona, where an elephant, known as "Cremona Elephant" is proven. The elephant had been a gift to Frederick II from Sultan Al-Kamil in 1229.

Sens was an important place in medieval times. Upto the 11th century the Archbishop of Sens hold the title "Primate of the Gauls and Germania". Thomas Becket lived in Sens for some time, when he was forced to leave England. Here Thomas met Pope Pope Alexander III. In 1141 Bishop Henri Sanglier here caused the condemnation of Peter Abelard. Bishop Henri Sanglier was well connected to the leading political figures. He and Abbot Suger de Saint-Denis were close friends - and had similar architectural ideas. Abbot Suger decided around 1137 to rebuild the Church of Saint-Denis. Bishop Henri started the construction of this cathedral around 1140. It is still discussed, which church is older, as this would be the oldest early Gothic church in France. While in Saint Denis (130kms northwest) the building process came to an halt for some time, the choir of the cathedral in Sens was completed already in 1168. It is sure, as Suger´s church in Saint Denis was an abbey church, the "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Sens" is the oldest Gothic cathedral in France. Of course, there were many alterations done later. After the southern tower of the western facade collapsed in 1267 it got rebuilt within the next decades. By then the early Gothic style had developed, so parts of the facade got remodeled end of the 13th century. The main portal of the facade, maybe a little younger than the western one but in the main parts created before the southern tower collapsed. I found the two sides most interesting, though they are pretty weathered. The upper tier has "arts" - dialectic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry etc. The lower tier has "nature" including some strange, exotic animals. Here is an elephant. In case, these carvings are dated to the 12th century, the artist never saw an elephant. Two elephants have been in Europe within the 13th century. Frederick II owned the "Cremona Elephant" around 1240, Louis IX ("Saint Louis") returned with an elephant from the Seventh Crusade and gave the animal to Henry III as a present in 1255.

The Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is a jewel of Romanesque architecture. The nave was erected within 20 years, from 1120 on, after the preceding church burnt down, with a loss of more than 1000 lifes. The choir and the transept, seen here, were erected 1185 - 1215. They are completed already in gothic style. The relics of Sainte Marie Madeleine, that had been here since around 1050, made Vezelay to a center of pilgrimage (and the starting point of the Via Lemovizensis). But in 1279 dominican monks in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume claimed to have found the "real" sarcophagus of Sainte Marie Madeleine. Unfortunately the Dominicans found the patronage by Pope Boniface VIII and Charles d'Anjou - and so Vezelay lost it´s importance. In 1559, during the Wars of Religion, Huguenots looted Vezelay und burnt the relics, that were still in Vezelay. Today there is a golden reliquary in the large, probably carolingian crypt, so obviously at least a part of the relics are still here. Prosper Mérimée and Viollet-le-Duc saved the basilica, that was a ruin in the early 19th century. When Prosper Mérimée started the renovation of the basilica in 1840, he was 26 years old. This was the first task for the young architect.. There are 99 carved capitals in the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Only a few were so damaged, that they had to be replaced during the renovation of the church. These damaged ones can be seen in the neighbouring museum now. All other capitals are still exactly in that places, they were carved for between 1125 and 1140. There is a specific smooth carving style in Vezelay. Here once were two elephants standing trunk in trunk. A vandal destroyed the capital. Either he could not stand the harmony of the animal couple, or he just did not like elephants at all. Charlemagne´s Abul Abbas had died in 810, more than 300 years before these elephants were carved. Two elephants reached Europe a century after the capital was created. The "Cremona Elephant", a gift presented to Frederick II by Sultan Al-Kamil in 1229, and the elephant Louis IX (aka "Saint Louis") presented to Henry III. This elephant, imported to France by Louis on his return from the crusade, died in cold and wet London in 1258.

The Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine is a jewel of Romanesque architecture. The nave was erected within 20 years, from 1120 on, after the preceding church burnt down, with a loss of more than 1000 lifes. The choir and the transept, seen here, were erected 1185 - 1215. They are completed already in gothic style. The relics of Sainte Marie Madeleine, that had been here since around 1050, made Vezelay to a center of pilgrimage (and the starting point of the Via Lemovizensis). But in 1279 dominican monks in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume claimed to have found the "real" sarcophagus of Sainte Marie Madeleine. Unfortunately the Dominicans found the patronage by Pope Boniface VIII and Charles d'Anjou - and so Vezelay lost it´s importance. In 1559, during the Wars of Religion, Huguenots looted Vezelay und burnt the relics, that were still in Vezelay. Today there is a golden reliquary in the large, probably carolingian crypt, so obviously at least a part of the relics are still here. Prosper Mérimée and Viollet-le-Duc saved the basilica, that was a ruin in the early 19th century. When Prosper Mérimée started the renovation of the basilica in 1840, he was 26 years old. This was the first task for the young architect.. There are 99 carved capitals in the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine. Only a few were so damaged, that they had to be replaced during the renovation of the church. These damaged ones can be seen in the neighbouring museum now. All other capitals are still exactly in that places, they were carved for between 1125 and 1140. There is a specific smooth carving style in Vezelay. Here once were two elephants standing trunk in trunk. A vandal destroyed the capital. Either he could not stand the harmony of the animal couple, or he just did not like elephants at all. Charlemagne´s Abul Abbas had died in 810, more than 300 years before these elephants were carved. Two elephants reached Europe a century after the capital was created. The "Cremona Elephant", a gift presented to Frederick II by Sultan Al-Kamil in 1229, and the elephant Louis IX (aka "Saint Louis") presented to Henry III. This elephant, imported to France by Louis on his return from the crusade, died in cold and wet London in 1258.

The monastery was founded in 885 by Wilfred the Hairy as one of the first nunneries in Catalonia. First abbess here was his daughter Emma. At that time her brother Radulf was abbot in nearby Ripoll, where Wilfred had founded a monastery as well. A family business! The church of the nunnery was consecrated in 887, but already in 1017, by request of Bernard I of Besalú, a papal bull suppressed the nunnery. Bernard then established a community of monks. In 1114 Augustinian canons took possession of the monastery, ruled by local abbots until 1484. In 1592 the monastery was secularized and converted into a simple collegiate that was given up in 1856. The current church dates back to the 12th century, though it got largely restored after an earthquake in 1428. It has a single nave, a wide transept and five apses. A capital of the extraordenary decorated central apse depicts elephants, a very rare species on medieval capitals. The elephants, seen here, are pretty "exact" and realistic. The ratio body/head and head/trunk is very well, only the ears are missing and the feet look strange. The first elephant, who is recorded in Europe (after Roman times), was Abul Abbas, presented to Charlemagne by Harun al-Rashid. Abul Abbas reached Aix-la-Chapelle in 802. The second elephant recorded is the "Cremona Elephant", presented by Sultan Al-Kamil to Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1229. In 1255 Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis") brought an elephant home from the 6th cruisade. This one was given to Henry III of England and died in London in 1258. So during the 12th century, when this capital was carved, there was no elephant in Europe, what has led to the speculation, to see these elephants as carved by moorish carvers, who may have had different experiences/backgrounds.