Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: battleaxe

A priory existed in Albignac, depending from the Benedictian abbey Saint-Michel-de-la-Cluse 700kms (!) east in what is today Northern Italy. The monastery must have been important in the 11th century, as another priory existed 100 kms south in Catus. In 1394 Cistercian nuns moved into the buildings, that all got lost. Just the large bell tower seen here remained from the Romanesque church, that after many alterations and renovations serves the parish. This capital was part of the lost transept once. Here are two arguing "hydrocentaurs". They wear helmets and both have battleaxes in their hands. This may be just the artist´s imaginative idea, but it may as well be an "echo" of the Norman/Viking raids. Helmets and battleaxes show these are warriers. Vikings were feared and known for these weapons and they were bound to rivers (hydro) as they approached in longships, often decorated with dragonheads.

The Abbey of Sainte-Marie-des-Dames was the first Benedictine abbey for women Charente-Maritime. It was founded in 1047 by Geoffrey II (aka "Geoffrey Martel") and his first wife Agnes of Burgundy. Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother of Richard Lionheart, was a great donor here. The place, where the abbey got erected, was a Roman cemetery. An Oratorium, over the tomb of Saint Pallais, existed here already in the 6th century. Saintes was a major halt for the pilgrims following the Via Turonensis, so the abbey developed well, during the first centuries. During the 100 Year´s War the abbey got ruined, reconstructed later, it got severely damaged by Huguenots during the Wars of Religions. The abbey existed up to the end of the 18th century. After the French Revolution the buldings served as prison and from 1808 on as a barracks. The church was used as a stable for the horses of the cavalry. The barracks were here up to the early 1920s, before the first renovations were started. In 1938 the abbey church "Sainte-Marie" got consecrated again. The 5th archivolt depicts cruel scenes, reminding me on "Killing Fields". About 50 people populate the archivolt. There are fully dressed, armed soldiers (?), who slaughter smaller, naked persons with swords. Inbetween are some women, maybe mothers. It is widely believed that this archivolt depicts the "Massacre of the Innocents". Here a more detailed photo. The soldier to the right uses a battleaxe. This surprised me, as "Martel" the "nom de guerre" of the quarrelsome founder Geoffrey II means "hammer" or "axe".