Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Weighing of Souls

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. The weighing of souls (psychostasia). Like mostly, the demons try to interfere with the balance of scales. To the right, the evil souls line up in front of the Hellmouth. Even a bishop (mitra) and a monk (tonsure) are among the roped, well dressed doomed.

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. In the centre, above the Saints, stands Archangel Michael holding the scale. The weighing of souls (psychostasia) is done on Judgement Day. Like mostly, the demons try to interfere with the balance of scales. To the right, the evil souls go to hell.

Brive´s parish church is a former collegiate church. The large church was erected in the 12th/13th century, where already Gregory of Tours mentions a church. This was built over the tomb of missionary "Saint Martin l'Espagnol" (aka "Saint Martin den Brive") at the end of the fifth century. Legends tell, that he was a disciple of Saint Martin of Tour. For the first two centries the collegiate, founded end of the 11th century, prospered, supported by the Bishops of Limoge, but it entered financial difficulties later. The cloister of the collegiate was destroyed in 1764, after the Augustin canons living here, joined the Priory of Port-Dieu. After the Revolution the the conventual buildings were bought by City and demolished in 1835. Many capitals line nave. Here is a "Weighing of Souls" (aka "Psichostasia"). Archangel Michael weighs the soul in a scale the good and bad deeds, while the devil intervenes, using trickery to make the scale fall on his side and take the soul to Hell. The small body symbolizes the soul.

The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. With the completion of the choir of the cathedral , the first stained glass windows got installed. Most of the windows around the choir, created 1220/1230, survived the times. The wonderful "vitraux" here may even be a bit older than the more famous ones in Chartres. Here is the Last Judgement. The "Weighing of Souls" (Psychostasia) in the top part. In the center the the souls to the right are saved and move to Abraham, who holds the souls in a napkin on his bosom. Those souls to the right end in a hellmouth.

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The western facade was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. This is the tympanum of the center-portal, the largest and most ornate and sophisticated one. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme already on Romanesque churches (eg Conques, Autun, Moissac, Sangüesa) is seen on the tympanum in a delicate Gothic style. Here is the center of the middle level. Archangel Michael holds a scale doing the "Weighing of the Souls". He holds his arm around the small (innocent) soul on is side, while the grim looking, bearded, hook-nosed devil is waiting eagerly.. The souls on the left, entering heaven, have a faint smile on their faces, a smile I saw in Reims (and Bamberg) as well. Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site".

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The western facade was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. This is the tympanum of the center-portal, the largest and most ornate and sophisticated one. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme already on Romanesque churches (eg Conques, Autun, Moissac, Sangüesa) is seen on the tympanum in a delicate Gothic style. Seen here are three levels. At the bottom souls arise from the open the graves. They all look young and healthy. Above Archangel Michael holds a scale. This is a Psychostasia, the "Weighing of the Souls". While the souls left of Saint Michael are escorted by angels, the souls to the right are tortured by devils. Above all Christ enthroned and flanked by angels. There are a lot of astonishing (and explicit!) details to be seen on the "Highway to Hell" (AC/DC), so I will upload some of them next. Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site".

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The western facade was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. This is the tympanum of the center-portal, the largest and most ornate and sophisticated one. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme already on Romanesque churches (eg Conques, Autun, Moissac, Sangüesa) is seen on the tympanum in a delicate Gothic style. Seen here are three levels. At the bottom souls arise from the open the graves. They all look young and healthy. Above Archangel Michael holds a scale. This is a Psychostasia, the "Weighing of the Souls". While the souls left of Saint Michael are escorted by angels, the souls to the right are tortured by devils. Above all Christ enthroned and flanked by angels. The angels show the "Arma Christi", the "Instruments of Passion". Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site".

This church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, was a real surprise to me. The single nave structure was probably erected within the 12th century. It was built in a "walking distance" off the pilgrim routes (like "San Pedro de Echano"), as the hamlet Artaiz is just about 10kms north of the "Camino Aragonés". San Martin will have been for sure a stopover for pilgrims, who had visited the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, following the "Via Turonensis". The masterly composed and carved portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Here is a script by German arthistorian Hedda Finke about this subject. art.unt.edu/medieval-symposium/presenter.php?year=2009&am... Between the seven corbels under the portal´s roof are six large reliefs. This one depicts (probably) the "Weighing of Souls" ("Psychostasia"). A fully dressed angel to the left and a naked devil to the right. The small figure may be the devil´s helper - or the poor soul. The left corbel depicts a musician playing a harp or zither. The person to the right is a dancer.

"Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is a church outside of Aulnay, in the center of an old graveyard. The setting has not changed for centuries. For the pilgrims of the 12th century this church was a major halt - and it still is for all the tourists... A predecessing church „Saint-Pierre-de-la-Tour“ had been here, that, when the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella got more and more popular, was obviously to small, as Aulnay was conveniently situated between Poitiers and Saintes on the Via Turonensis. A new, larger church was needed, so the place was handed over to the chapter of the cathedral in Poitiers. The canons then probably planned this church, that was erected from about 1130/1140 on. "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is a gem of the "style saintongeais". For Peter Strafford ("Romanesque Churches Of France") this is "one of the best examples of late Romanesque architecture in what used to be Aquitaine". This is one of the capitals, that are all around the apses. Here is a "psychostasia", the "Weighing of Souls", in a totally different, lively style, than the psychostasiae in Saintes, Saujon and Arces. Here two very agressive devils (mouths wide open! Scary teeth!) are trying to manipulate the scale (hold by an angel), as depending on the scale the soul will go to heaven or to hell.

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 (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin. One of the masterly carved capitals, has this "psychostasia", the Weighing of souls. Often devil is cheating by holding down the left side of the scale. Here the long-haired devil, who is dotted with pimples, is pushed back be an angel. When I took this photo, the devil looked at me and whispered "Come closer, come closer". He even blinked. I was so shocked and frightened, that I spoiled the photo!

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 (lost) church dedicated to Saint Martin. One of the masterly carved capitals, has this "psychostasia", the Weighing of souls. Depending from the scale - the soul will go either the heaven or hell. Often the scale is held by archangel Michael and often the devil is cheating by holding down the left side of the scale. Here the long-haired devil, who is dotted with pimples, is pushed back be the angel in the center.