Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Herodes

The town on the Vistula River has been known since the 9th century. In 1009 a Benedictine monastery was founded here. King Bolesław I the Brave built the original fortifications on the Cathedral Hill overlooking the Vistula River. In 1075, the city became the seat of a bishopric. From 1079 to 1138, during the reign of Władysław I Herman and Bolesław III. Wrymouth, the city was the capital of Poland. In 1144 the Płock Cathedral was completed, and in 1180 the first school in Poland was opened in the city, which still exists today as the Liceum Małachowianka. The 16th century was the golden age of the city before it suffered great population losses due to plague, fire and wars. In 1657, during the Second Northern War, the Swedes destroyed Płock, including the castle, but the population rebuilt it and recovered. In the late 18th century, the old city walls were torn down and a new town was built, where many German immigrants settled. During the second partition of Poland in 1793, the town was annexed by Prussia. In 1815 it became part of Congress Poland and later was annexed completely by the Russian Empire. In 1939, after the invasion of Poland, the city became part of the German Empire in violation of international law. The first mention of the cathedral dates back to 1102, when Władysław I Herman was buried there. The present Romanesque cathedral was rebuilt after a fire and lasted from 1136 to 1144, being consecrated in 1144. The Romanesque bronze door was created in Magdeburg in 1152-1154 by order of the Bishop of Płock and was originally installed in the cathedral. Through the mediation of the Bishop of Magdeburg, the order was given to Master Riquinus. Master Awram from Novgorod was also involved. The components of the door were cast individually from bronze and nailed to the wooden door in partially reversed order. The sequence of images was changed several times and Russian inscriptions were added. Between the panels with figural motifs there are wide borders. In total, the door consists of 26 panels. Between the panels there were borders with plant ornaments, which were replaced in the upper part by figural motifs of knights and animals. The panels depict the cycle of redemption, starting with the scene of the creation of the first man and ending with Christ enthroned as the judge of the world, surrounded by symbols of the evangelists. The door handles are designed in the form of lion heads holding small human heads in half-open mouths. The door remained in Płock for about 250 years, then it was brought to Novgorod and installed in St. Sophia's Cathedral. Either it was stolen by the Lithuanians during a raid in the 13th century or it was given to the Prince of Novgorod, Simon Lingwen, the brother of Władysław II. Jagiełło. Today there is a bronze copy in Płock. The original is in Novgorod. To the right is "Herodes Imp(erator)", and to the left "Karolus"(?). This could be Charlemagne.

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. As each tourist takes at least 100 photos (minimum!) in Venice 3000000000 photos are taken here per year, what means more than 8 millions per day. I have already uploaded dozends of shots from previous visits, so ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. - The main altar of the Basilica di San Marco is located under a ciborium. Here is a detail of one of the pillars, supporting the canopy. I have no idea, how old these complex pillars are or where they came from, nor could I read/translate the inscriptions. They may originate from Byzanz like many works of art here (eg. the "Four Tetrarchs"). Seen here is the "Adoration of the Magi". Note the name HERODES below

Parma, part of the Holy Roman Empire since Charlemagne´s times, was locally ruled by its bishops. During the long Investiture Controversy, Parma was (mostly) member of the Imperial party ("Ghibellini"). Two of Parma´s bishops even became antipopes: Càdalo as Honorius II and Guibert as Clement III. An almost independent commune was created around 1140. After the Peace of Constance confirmed the Italian communes' rights of self-governance in 1183, quarrels with the neighbouring communes (eg Piacenza and Cremona) developed over the trading lines along the Po river. When in 1248 Papist families ("Guelphs") gained control over the city, Emperor Frederick II (aka "Stupor Mundi") besieged Parma with no success. This were the circumstances, when in 1196 the City Council of Parma commissioned the building of the Battistero di San Giovanni to Benedetto Antelami. In 1216 the second tier was completed. The work stopped under a temporary roof. It continued in 1249 and the octagon, located next to the cathedral, was finally completed in 1270. The Baptistery has three (!) portals. Here is the tympanum of one of them. Seated under the semicircular Tree of Jesse is Virgin Mary, young Jesus on her knees. To the left the Magi approach (names written above them) adoring, to the right Joseph gets a message from an angel. On the lintel below Jesus is getting baptised by John the Baptist. John later gets beheaded during an evening meal of the Herodes family.

The construction of the "Duomo" began in 1064 by the architect Busketo, who set the model for the distinctive Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. When the construction of this cathedral started, Pisa was on a height of political (and financial) power. Pisa was an important commercial centre controlling large parts of the Mediterranean merchant fleet and navy. In 1017 Pisa had militarily supported the Sardinian "Giudicati" (regional kings) to defeat Saracen troops in the north of Sardinia. Between 1030 and 1035, Pisa defeated rival towns in Sicily. In 1051–1052 Jacopo Ciurini conquered Corsica. In 1063 Giovanni Orlando took Palermo from the Saracen. The gold treasure taken from the Saracens in Palermo allowed the Pisans to start the building of the cathedral. The bronze doors of the cathedral´s Porta San Ranieri survived the fire, that severely damaged the cathedral in 1595. The doors (see previous uploads) were sculpted by Bonanus of Pisa around 1180. Here is a detail: Herod ("ERODI") and the "Massacre of the Innocents".

On the ruins of a older basilica begann, just next to the Baptistère Saint-Jean the construction of large Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in 1162. The building, the new the seat of the Archbishop of Poitiers, was greatly funded by Henry II of England (aka "Henri II Plantagenêt") and Eleanor of Aquitaine. The construction started as usual in the east and was completed with the western facade end of the 13th century. The transition from the late Romanesque to the Gothic style is visible. The "Porte Saint Michel" a small side portal was probably created around 1180. Here is a detail from the left side. The Magi First - I saw the three heads of the "Sleeping Magi" to the very left, but the carving is too damaged. The three objects may be as well "foliage" of a large tree. Further right the Magi´s horses with grooms and to the right the crowned Magi line up in front of - Herod!! - For a while I saw the Magi in Bethlehem, but there is no child on the knees. A small devil lurks over Herod's right shoulder.