Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: votive offering

Córdoba shares its history with many cities in Southern Spain. It was Carthaginian and Roman (from 260BC on), later it belonged to the Byzantine Empire for two decades, was looted by the Vandals before the Visigoths conquered it in 572. In 711 it was taken by the by the Umayyad army and became a provincial capital. At that time a Christian church erected by the Visigoths was on the site, it was divided and shared by Muslims and Christians. In 784 the Christian half was purchased by Emir Abd al-Rahman I, who then demolished the church and started to build the grand mosque of Córdoba on its ground. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard. It covers an area of more than 23.000 m². Nothing in Cordoba compares to the Mezquita-Cathedral, but this place has a very long history - and an interesting archaeological museum. Iberian votive offerings, 2nd - 3rd century BC

In May 1480, the farrier Andrés Díaz presented a petition in which he said “that he and other persons had gone to Santa María de Sonsoles. The church there was in poor condition and without decoration. The Provisor and Vicar General gave his permission for the establishment of a brotherhood under the name of Our Lady of Sonsoles. The brotherhood was very successful so the pilgrim hospital "Nuestra Señora de Sonsoles" was founded after 1500. As the number of pilgrims grew, the church was extended end of the 16th century. Its single nave was replaced by three naves There are many votive offerings in this church. Crocodiles are an unusual species in European churches. According to the information provided here, a man was riding through Panama when he encountered a crocodile. Praying to Señora de Sonsoles, he managed to finish the beast off, as his riding crop turned into a sword. This animal was loaded onto the ship back to Spain and stuffed. It has been on display since the 16th century.

There are many votive offerings in this church. One of the miracles described dates back to the time of the Spanish Armada. A sailor was hit by a great storm. He confided in the Virgin and asked her to take him to the port. As a thank you, the man gave a model of the ship.

Legends tell, that in 490, 492 and 493 the archangel Michael appeared to a shepherd and a bishop in front of a grotto. Archangel Michael instructing them to convert that cave into a Christian church. This grotto became the site of many pilgrimages since the early Middle Ages. It is said, that this is the oldest shrine in Western Europe When the Lombards successfully conquered southern Italy end of the 6th century, King Grimoald in 662 passed on the region to his son, Romuald I, who renovated the sanctuary and encouraged its use as a pilgrimage site. It got very popular for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and as well for pilgrims who had followed the Via Francigena to Rome and then continued to the grotto. Many Popes have been here, but as well Bridget of Sweden, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Matilda of Tuscany, Otto III... From the portico, steps lead down to the grotto. Since centuries pilgrims have used these steps. Even now with electric light, it looks very mystic. All the walls are covered with names, carved in by the many pilgrims. The grotto is not the only cave here. More caves and stairs (below the grotto) can be reached via the museum, where hundreds of votive offerings are displayed. The most beautiful is this Archangel Michael, gilded copper, the first half of the 11th century. There is an inscription at his feet. The gesture (note the fingers) is byzantine.

Legends tell, that in 490, 492 and 493 the archangel Michael appeared to a shepherd and a bishop in front of a grotto. Archangel Michael instructing them to convert that cave into a Christian church. This grotto became the site of many pilgrimages since the early Middle Ages. It is said, that this is the oldest shrine in Western Europe When the Lombards successfully conquered southern Italy end of the 6th century, King Grimoald in 662 passed on the region to his son, Romuald I, who renovated the sanctuary and encouraged its use as a pilgrimage site. It got very popular for pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem and as well for pilgrims who had followed the Via Francigena to Rome and then continued to the grotto. Many Popes have been here, but as well Bridget of Sweden, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, Matilda of Tuscany, Otto III... From the portico, steps lead down to the grotto. Since centuries pilgrims have used these steps. Even now with electric light, it looks very mystic. All the walls are covered with names, carved in by the many pilgrims. The grotto is not the only cave here. More caves and stairs (below the grotto) can be reached via the museum, where hundreds of votive offerings are displayed.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. - Syracuse, founded by Greek settlers on the small island of Ortyga, in 734 BC, developed into the most powerful city on Sicily in the early times. Syracuse withstood the attacks of foreign conquerors over a long period, but in 212 BC it became a Roman city. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Syracuse came under the rule of the Vandals and then the Ostrogoths. Then for three centuries, Syracuse was part of the Byzantine Empire, before the Arabs conquered the city in 878. In 1038 Byzantine troops took over and the "Castello Maniace" was erected. Already in 1086 Roger I sieged Syracuse and conquered the city. In 1221 Emperor Frederick II took over and had the Castello Maniace rebuilt. - The "Cathedral of Syracuse", in the centre of Ortyga, was it was once originally a Greek temple, devoted to Athene in the 5th century BC. The present cathedral was constructed by Bishop Zosimo of Syracuse in the 7th century. The Doric columns of the temple were incorporated in the walls of the current church. - A unique votive offering on display in the treasure room of the cathedral. Seems like the donor had suffered from partial blindness from 20.12.1954 to 24.01.1955.

After three local shepherd children witnessed a Marian apparition here in 1917, Fátima has developed into a major pilgrimage site of the Catholic Church. What started with a small chapel in 1918 is now the huge Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima that includes two basilicas. These waxen sculptures are votive offerings, that will be thrown in the fire - and melt. The pious pilgrims could also buy waxen legs, arms and even internal organs, that looked a bit scary. www.fatima.pt/en/