Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: empty tomb

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. It may well be, that soon after panels of a bronze door from another (destroyed?, damaged?) church were transferred to San Zeno - and so got reused here. Today the famous bronze door consists out of two panels on which the plates are fixed. The older ones (~ 1100) are often compared with the bronze works in Hildesheim, and Saxon Masters may have worked here. The younger ones (1200) are "smoother" and some scholars connect them to Benedetto Antelami, who worked in Parma 1178 ("Deposition"). Unfortunately the room is so small, that I was unable to take an "overview", so I could only take photos of panels and details. The Myrrhbearers approach the empty tomb. Here are only two ladies, but mostly seen in this situation are the "Three Marys". I have the impression, that on the left one lady got lost.

On the ruins of a older basilica begann, just next to the Baptistère Saint-Jean the construction of large Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in 1162. The building, the new the seat of the Archbishop of Poitiers, was greatly funded by Henry II of England (aka "Henri II Plantagenêt") and Eleanor of Aquitaine. The construction started as usual in the east and was completed with the western facade end of the 13th century. The cathedral is best known for the wonderful stained glass windows. The three windows around the choir date back to the 12th century and may be the oldest in France. The central window (previous uploads) is very large (8,35ms x 3,10ms). A crucifixion scene is in the center of this window, the Ascension is seen above the crucifixion. Here is, what is seen below. The top tier has the empty tomb (with two sleeping soldiers), the angel waiting to the left and the three "Myrrhbearers" approaching from the the right. Matthew 28:1 "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." The center tier has (left) "NERO IMPERAT(OR)" with a blue devil on his shoulder. He just sentences to death: "STS PETRUS" gets crucified upside down and (right) blindfolded "STS PAULUS" gets decapitated. Under the head of Saint Peter the sponsors of this church "Henry II of England" and "Eleanor of Aquitaine" watch the scenes. I cannot read all the words there, but the the restaurators from 188x left their "signature".

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. Here is one of the old, weathered carvings. This is the same capital, seen on the previous upload. While the solders were already sleeping there, here to the right, they are still guarding the tomb. In the center seen here are the "Myrrhbearers" (aka "The Three Marys"). Matthew 28:1 "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." An angel stands left to the empty tomb, greeting the women. Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

The parish church in Saujon is a sober structure, erected 1679. Since 1912 the nave hosts four Romanesque capitals that once were part of a church dedicated to Saint Martin, that got "lost" during the French Revolution. The capitals are masterly carved. This capital depicts the three women (aka "The Three Marys", "Myrrhbearers", ) approaching the empty tomb. Mark 16:2-5 "Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed." The angel is sitting on the empty tomb and greeting the Marys. Mark 16:6 "And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."

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. As the the main theme of the portal´s center is the "Ascension of Christ", it is not surprising to find the "empty tomb" and the "Myrrhbearers" just around the corner. Matthew 28:1 "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb." Mark 16:1-2 "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb"