Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: avarice

The Romans were already here and utilised the hot springs. They built a bridge over the river, the Ponte romana, creating an important communication route, which was of course secured by fortifications. In the 5th century, Ourense became the seat of a bishopric. As the capital of the kingdom of the Suebi, Ourense flourished in the 5th and 6th centuries. The Suebi king Teodomiro († 570) built the first cathedral in Ourense after converting from Arianism to Catholicism. Constant raids by the Moorish conquerors and the Normans devastated the city to such an extent that it remained almost uninhabited for several centuries. It was rebuilt in 1071 under King Sancho II of Castile. In the following centuries, the city gained importance as a bishop's see, but also as a trading centre. In the 13th century, Ourense was an important trading centre in Galicia due to its geographical location and its large Jewish community. The economic decline began after the expulsion of Ourense's Jews in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs. In the centuries that followed, Ourense's importance steadily declined. The earliest cathedral appears to have been a church dedicated to Santa María la Madre. In 550, the Suevian king Chararic built a second church here dedicated to St Martin of Tour. The cathedral was however repeatedly destroyed over the centuries by the Moors and the Northmen who invaded the city. Today's building was constructed as a Romanesque church in the 12th and 13th centuries. Gothic additions followed until the early 16th century. The consecration of the high altar was already in 1188. The "Pórtico del Paraíso" reproduces, in a simplified manner, the structure of the "Pórtico de la Gloria" of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, being later than the latter. It is a smaller-scale recreation of the Pórtico de la Gloria in Santiago. This one was creared about fifty years after it. The current polychromy dates from the 18th century, and was probably made over the original Romanesque one, of which remains can be seen in the figures on the pilasters. The intention of this sculptural work was to instruct the ancient medieval people in the sacred scriptures. From left to right, the Old Testament prophets are depicted, while on the right are nine of the twelve apostles, and in the central arcade are the twenty-four elders of the Apocalypse with musical instruments. The smaller arch on the right also depicts the Last Judgement. Poor souls. Going down to hell.

When the first barbarian people, the Alemanni invaded northern Italy, "Piacentia" was one of the first major Roman cities to be besieged. The Battle of Piacentia then broke out in front of the city walls in 271, during which the Alemanni inflicted a bitter defeat on the Romans. The fall of the city triggered panic in the capital. In 546, Totila subjugated Piacenza. After its conquest by the Franks in the ninth century, the city began to recover, aided by its location along the Via Francigena. Between 997 and 1035 the city was ruled by its bishops, installed by Otto III. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Piacenza was an important member of the Lombard League. As a rule, the city remained Guelph, but at times it called upon powerful Ghibellines to aid them against their native tyrants. In 1447 Piacenza was conquered and plundered by Francesco I Sforza. After being occupied by papal troops in 1512, it was united with Parma in 1545 to form a hereditary duchy under Pier Luigi II Farnese, a son of Pope Paul III. After the preceding "Domus Justinae" in Piacenza had collapsed in 1117 after an earthquake, the "Duomo di Piacenza" (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Giustina") was erected between 1122 and 1233. The cathedral has a total length of 85 m. making it the largest Romanesque church in Emilia-Romagna. Details of the facade. Wiligelmo da Modena s said to have contributed to the bas-reliefs. The lintel is supported by two figures that are labeled. Left "usura" (usury), right "avarice".

Since 1007, when Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II (Henry II) made Bamberg the seat of a diocese, the Bamberg Cathedral ("Bamberger Dom St. Peter und St. Georg") is the seat of the Archbishop of Bamberg. The first cathedral on this place, founded in 1004 by Heinrich II and named "Heinrichsdom", got consecrated already in 1012. This building got destroyed by fire in 1085. Around 1215 the construction of the building seen here started. It was commisioned by Bishop Eckbert von Andechs-Meranien, brother of Hedwig von Andechs (aka Hedwig of Silesia). The new cathedral was consecrated in 1237. The Last Judgement on the tympanum of the Fuerstenportal. Originally statues of Ecclesia and Synagogue were placed on the sides: Ecclesia on the left on the side of the saved and Synagogue on the right on the side of the damned. This prestigious portal (~ 1225) was only used by the Bishop, his entourage and the high nobility. So there is a strong kind of warning here. Within the group of the damned are a bishop, a king and a rich man, standing for avarice. They are led to hell by a devil (wings on the shanks!) The damned all have a very grim smile on their faces.

In Gallo-Roman times the Celtic people of the Vellavii had their capital, named Ruessio here. During the 6th century the capital was transferred to Anicium (= Le Puy), the last bishop here was Saint Paulianus. - Saint-Georges, located in the centre of Saint-Paulien, was built in the 11th - 12th centuries and got largely modified within the 16th century. The walls of Saint-Georges have a beautiful polychromy resulting from the combination of white, grey, black, beige, brown, pink and even mauve volcanic blocks. During my last visit, the church was locked. This time I was lucky! Following the information given here, this capital depicts a miser (avar) being tortured, but actually he is holding a book, not a moneybag.

Puente la Reina ( aka "Gares") was an important place in medieval times, as here the "Camino Aragonés" joined the "Camino Francés". The pilgrims having crossed the Pyrenees via the Somport met their collegues, who had used the Roncevaux Pass. A six-arched-bridge over the Rio Arga gave the name to the town. It was built within the 11th century, commissioned either by Doña Mayor, wife of Sancho III, or by Doña Estefanía, wife of García III of Navarra. The Iglesia del Crucifijo was erected just outside of the town, what explains the old name "Santa Maria de Hortis". It belonged to a convent of the Knights Hospitaller, who supported the pilgrims by operating "hopitals". The church was built within the 12th century, but an older structure had probably already a century ago. It got enlarged by a second nave later, when the number of pilgrims rose, as the Knights Hospitaller offered lodging. The South Portal of the church (previous upload) was probably completed early 14th century, when the church got enlarged. The outer archivolt is populated with animals, angels, humans - and devouring lions. Here is the head of a lion, devouring a miser. The miser´s huge moneybag, the symbol for his avarice, is (following the law of gravity) hanging out of the lion´s mouth.

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges. The abbey church, built in eleventh/twelfth century, got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures and added details. There are two blind arches flanking the central entrance. Here are the archivolts over the left blind arch. Avarice is a deathly sin, so that the misers, holding their filled purses, are tortured by evil devils. No mercy! Here is a close up.

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges. The abbey church, built in eleventh/twelfth century, got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures and added details. There are two blind arches flanking the central entrance. Here are the archivolts over the left blind arch. Avarice is a deathly sin, so that the five misers, holding their filled purses, are tortured by evil devils. No mercy!

Lorginac is a small village, surrounded by vinyards, near the Gironde. The parish church Saint-Pierre in it´s center was built within the 12th century, but got greatly altered in the 19th century. The left side of the capital, just seen on the previous upload. It is part of the western facade, that survived the great reconstruction process and still is in a good condition. A devil holds a miser by the neck. Avarice was a deathly sin - and the miser´s purse is indeed well filled. The devil has an enormous hairdo, that looks a bit like headdresses and war bonnets worn by Native Americans. But Christopher Columbus was still "far away"...