Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: phrygian cap

The former abbey church of Saint-Trophime, erected 1100-1150. The church is dedicated to St. Trophimus, the first bishop of Arles (3rd century). This church was the centre of a diocese up to the French Revolution. End of July 1178 Frederick I Barbarossa, was crowned here "King of Burgundy". His wife Beatrix was crowned a month later in the Cathedral St. Maurice - in Vienne. I have uploaded already many photos from here over the years already, so I just add a few. Many works of art that are now parts of the exhibition are not originally from this church. - Many works of art that are now parts of the exhibition are not originally from this church. - The sides of the third sarcophagus are poorly visible. Here are the magi in Bethlehem. The magi wear Phrygian caps like all ancient representations (see Ravenna).

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. The "Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio" is much older and was not destroyed by Barbarossa´s troops. It is one of the most ancient churches in Milan, built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, outside the city of Milan on the site of a cemetery, where the martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was "Basilica Martyrum". Ambrose, born into a noble family about 340 in (present-day) Trier (Germany), was governor of Liguria and Emilia for two years before he became the Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Only very few traces of the first church can still be found, as in the centuries after its construction, the basilica underwent numerous restorations and reconstructions. The current Romanesque church, mostly built in brickwork, was begun around 1080. In 789, a Benedictine monastery was established here. The canons of the basilica, however, retained their own community. So two separate communities shared the basilica. In the 11th century, the canons adopted orders and became Canons Regular. From then on two separate monastic orders following different rules lived in the basilica. The canons were in the northern building, the cloister of the canons, while the monks were in the two southern buildings. The two towers symbolize the division in the basilica. The 9th century Torre dei Monaci ("Tower of the Monks") tower was used by the monks. However, the canons did not have a bell tower and were not allowed to ring bells until they finished the Canons' bell tower in the 12th Century. This tower got two additional levels in 1889. In 1943 the basilica got severely damaged by bombings. It took a decade to rebuilt and reconstruct the church. The ambo stands on the left side of the nave. From here the monks and canons read the Gospel. The ambo, supported by nine slender ancient columns, was built over a 4th century sarcophagus, known as "Stilicho's Sepulchre", between 1130 and 1143. When the roof of the basilica collapsed in 1196, the ambo got severely damaged, but it got rebuilt already in 1201. "Stilicho's Sepulchre" was probably already here, when Saint Ambrose had the first church erected here. It is not the sarcophagus of Flavius Stilicho (359 – 408) a powerful "magister militum" in the Roman army and relative of Thedodosius I. Stilicho is connected to the nearby Basilica di San Lorenzo, but not to Sant'Ambrogio. It is unknown, for whom this wonderful early Christian sarcophagus was made about 1700 years ago. It was surely important enough to be placed here and used as the base of the ambo. The Magi visiting Herod? They wear the phrygian caps, just like the "early" Magi I saw in Ravenna.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. The "Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio" is much older and was not destroyed by Barbarossa´s troops. It is one of the most ancient churches in Milan, built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, outside the city of Milan on the site of a cemetery, where the martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was "Basilica Martyrum". Ambrose, born into a noble family about 340 in (present-day) Trier (Germany), was governor of Liguria and Emilia for two years before he became the Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Only very few traces of the first church can still be found, as in the centuries after its construction, the basilica underwent numerous restorations and reconstructions. The current Romanesque church, mostly built in brickwork, was begun around 1080. In 789, a Benedictine monastery was established here. The canons of the basilica, however, retained their own community. So two separate communities shared the basilica. In the 11th century, the canons adopted orders and became Canons Regular. From then on two separate monastic orders following different rules lived in the basilica. The canons were in the northern building, the cloister of the canons, while the monks were in the two southern buildings. The two towers symbolize the division in the basilica. The 9th century Torre dei Monaci ("Tower of the Monks") tower was used by the monks. However, the canons did not have a bell tower and were not allowed to ring bells until they finished the Canons' bell tower in the 12th Century. This tower got two additional levels in 1889. In 1943 the basilica got severely damaged by bombings. It took a decade to rebuilt and reconstruct the church. The ambo stands on the left side of the nave. From here the monks and canons read the Gospel. The ambo, supported by nine slender ancient columns, was built over a 4th century sarcophagus, known as "Stilicho's Sepulchre", between 1130 and 1143. When the roof of the basilica collapsed in 1196, the ambo got severely damaged, but it got rebuilt already in 1201. "Stilicho's Sepulchre" was probably already here, when Saint Ambrose had the first church erected here. It is not the sarcophagus of Flavius Stilicho (359 – 408) a powerful "magister militum" in the Roman army and relative of Thedodosius I. Stilicho is connected to the nearby Basilica di San Lorenzo, but not to Sant'Ambrogio. It is unknown, for whom this wonderful early Christian sarcophagus was made about 1700 years ago. It was surely important enough to be placed here and used as the base of the ambo. Here is (young, beardless) Jesus, flanked by the (older) apostles. The sarcohagus was made probably for the couple in the medaillon above. I have the impression, that left and right are the Magi. They wear the phrygian caps, just like the "early" Magi I saw in Ravenna. On the right, where the heads are lost, they carry presents.

Augustodunum (today Autun) was founded during the reign of Augustus, after whom it was named. It was an important settlement, the Roman theather, partly unearthed, could seat about 15.000 people, there is a Roman temple, walls... But it is the Cathédrale Saint-Lazare and the wonderful carvings, that made me return again and again. There had been a church here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. In 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. The cathedral ("Latin Cross") was completed in 1146, only the porch which was added some years later After severe damage in 1376, during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started within the 15th century. At that time Gothic chapels were added and a massive crossing tower was built. A strange earthling with a phrygian cap and a snail creep through the foliage under the paws of a gargoyle.

The "Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine" in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume (pop. ~ 14.000) is one of the largest and most important Gothic churches in of the Provence. - As I have uploaded many fotos taken here during previous visits, I will now add only a few.. - A small merovingien church existed here, until a sarcophagus was discovered inside the church´s crypt in 1279. The inscription made clear, that this was the tomb of Mary Magdalene. Her relics had been venerated in Vezeley since the early 11th century. This had made Vezelay Abbey to a major starting point for the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. According to a legend a monk named Baudillon brought the relics of Maria Magdalene from Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume to Vezelay. In 1058 Pope Stephen IX had confirmed the authenticity of the relics. It was undisputed that Maria Magdalena was one of the The "Three Marys", who had fled the Holy Land by a miraculous boat and landed at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. After having worked as a sucessful missionar, she retired to a cave in the near mountains. She was buried in a crypt in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, from where the relics had been transferred to Vezelay. The discovery of the tomb in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in 1279 was a very clever "marketing" plot, that put the pilgrim business in Vezelay to a sudden end. Charles II of Anjou, King of Naples founded the Basilique Ste. Marie-Madeleine in 1295. Pope Boniface VIII placed it under the new order of Dominicans. The basilica was built over the crypt (where the tomb was found) but the works slowed down and the basilica never got completed. --- There are some old sarcophagi in the dim crypt. One of them is named "The Saint Innocent´s sarcophagus". It is dated to the 4th century. The frieze depicts (following teh information given here): "The Shepherd´s Adoration (they are wearing Phrygian caps). Jesus child, the ox, the donkey" I do not agree. I am pretty sure, that seen here is the Adoration of the Magi. There are (only) three persons, they hold presents, they may even wear Phrygian caps (I do not see them), but these caps are typical for the early icons of the Magi (see Ravenna). --- Sorry for the bad quality of this pic.

The museum, located just behind the Cathedral, is not large, but hosts a tremendous collection. Part of the museum is the bishop´s private chapel, built end of the 5th century and dedicated to Sant'Andrea. The famous "Throne of Maximian" (= "Cattedra di Massimiano"), carved from ivory ~ 550, is on display and many other delicate works of art. Unfortunately to take photos here is - not allowed. So I could take only very few, before getting a warning A reliquary (6th c.) with - the Magi. They are offering gold, frankincense and myrrh to young Jesus and wear wear phrygian caps.

Two Syrian hermits named Lazzaro and Giovanni had lived in the 5th century, where Faruald, Duke of Spoleto, founded this abbey within the 8th century "over the hermits´ tombs". In 724, Faroald's son Thrasimund rebelled and disposed his father into the monastery. For some generations the abbey was the burial ground for the Dukes of Spoleto Saracen troops looted and destroyed the Benedictian abbey end of the 9th century, but Otto III ordered a rebuilding soon after. In 1016 the abbey was completed. There is a long discussion about the church, as it may not have been "destroyed", but maybe was only "damaged" by the Saracens. In "Ombrie romane" Adriano Prandi cites a couple of scholars who date the church back to the 8th century, while he (taking in account the T-floorplan) dates it to the first half of the 11th. He actually connects this church to Cluny II and Saint Michael in Hldesheim, both completed somne decades before 1000. When Otto III, son of Otto II and his wife Theophanu, marched through on 996 in his way to Rome, where he claimed the titles King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor, he may have been accompanied by experienced and well travelled architects. They may have cared for the rebuilding of the church, that Otto III had ordered. Some of the nave´s frescoes are Romanesque (1150). Here are the Magi. They (still) wear Phrygian caps. Later they were depiczed with crowns on their heads, bringing them (as Kings) in a linage with the medieval royalties.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. Little Jesus, just a few days old, masters already the blessing gesture. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. While on the left the shepherds watch the "First Bath" (under the Star of Bethlehem), Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.

This unique church complex, once part of a collegiate and dedicated to Saint-Jaques, combines a round church and attached to this a rectangular basilica. A local noble named Eudes of Deols, who had traveled to the Holy Land in 1027, founded this church around 1040, a replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Over centuries this was a major stop-over for pilgrims following the Via Lemovicensis. Eleven pillars form the rotunda, that has a diameter of 8,30m. The number "11" may stand for the number of apostles after Judas left. The pillars have massive capitals. While the wild men were dancing on the previous upload, here the carvers concentrated on the wild men´s faces with nicely combed beards and phrygian caps.

Fenioux, a small village with a population of less than 200, has this wonderful parish church "Notre-Dame de l’Assomption". Once the church was dedicated to "Saint-Savinien" and "Saint Pierre". It was built in the 12th century, about the same time, when Aulnay (27kms northeast) was under construction. The church was erected over a Carolingian oratory from the 9th century, of which some parts were integrated into the new building - and so still exist around the choir. The large, western facade, with its five archivolts is breathtaking. Though vandalized during the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution, when many sculptures here lost their heads, this is still extraordenary. There are ten capitals on which the five archvolts are based. Five on either side. One of the capitals has two very long necked sirens, wearing phrygian caps and posing/dancing cheek to cheek.