Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: monster

The history of Wroclaw dates back more than a thousand years. At various times, it has been part of the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia, and Germany. Wrocław became part of Poland again in 1945 as part of the result of extensive border changes and expulsions after WWII. In 990 Mieszko I of Poland conquered Silesia and Wrocław. The town became a commercial center. In the 12th century Polish, Bohemian, Jewish, Walloon, and German communities existed here. Wroclaw was devastated in 1241 during the first Mongol invasion of Poland. In the 13th century due to migration from Saxony and Bavaria, Wroclaw got germanised. The population adopted the German language and culture and the name changed to Breslau. Between 1342 and 1344 two fires destroyed large parts of the city, which was a part of the Bohemian Kingdom at that time. Charles IV`s , successors Wenceslaus and Sigismund became involved in a long-lasting feud with the city and its magistrate, culminating in the revolt in 1418 when local craftsmen killed seven councilors. After the city had defeated the Bohemian Hussites the city was besieged by a combined Polish-Czech force in 1474, however, a ceasefire was signed, according to which the city remained under Hungarian rule. The Reformation reached Breslau already in 1518, and in 1523 the town council unanimously appointed a new pastor and thus introduced the Reformation in Breslau. In 1526, the Habsburg monarchy of Austria inherited Bohemia, Silesia, and the city of Breslau. In 1609 German emperor Rudolf II granted the free exercise of church services to all Bohemian and Silesian Protestants. In the following Thirty Years' War, the city suffered badly. It was occupied by Saxon and Swedish troops and lost 18,000 of its 40,000 residents to the plague. The Counter-Reformation had started with Rudolf II who encouraged Catholic orders to settle in Breslau. The dominance of the German population under the Habsburg rule in the city became more visible, while the Polish population diminished in numbers. After Frederick the Great besieged the city for a year, it surrendered in 1741. In 1742, Queen Maria Theresa handed over Silesia to the Prussian king. - At the end of the 12th century, the family of the governor Peter Włast (Piotr Włostowic) funded the construction of a Romanesque church on this small island, hence its name on the Sand. The Romanesque church was demolished in the 14th century to make way for a larger Gothic church, built in brick between 1334 and 1430 according to the plans of the architect Master Peschel. The nave, lit by huge windows, is 78 meters long. The Gothic vaults rise to 24 meters high. The church was sacked by Swedish troops in 1632 during the Thirty Years' War. During the Seven Years' War, the Prussians used the church as an ammunition depot. When at the end of WWII the Soviet troops advanced in 1945, the Sandkirche and the buildings served as headquarters for the German army, which was conscious of fighting a dead-end battle. During the fighting, most of Breslau's historical monuments were destroyed or severely damaged. The Sandkirche also burned down, only the walls were still standing. The German population was expelled after the war and replaced by Polish refugees from the east. In 1946, the reconstruction began, which was based on the old Gothic plans and also reconstructed the ceiling vaults in their old form. The interior furnishing of the church is composed of surviving elements from other destroyed churches in the city and the diocesan museum. Two crocodile-mouthed monsters hold the ring on the old door.

Bari was an early settlement and passed under Roman rule in the 3rd century BC. It developed strategic significance as the point of junction between the coast road and the Via Traiana and as a port for eastward trade. The first bishop of Bari was Gervasius who is known from the Council of Sardica in 347. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the town was devasted and taken by Alaric´s Visigothic troops, then was under Lombardian rule, before the Byzantines took over. In 755 it was conquered by Pepin the Short (Charlemagne´s father) and from 847 on it was an Islamic Emirate. The Byzantine fleet returned in 871 and since 885 Bari ws the residence of the local Byzantine governor. Following a three-year siege, Bari was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071. After the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were surreptitiously brought from Myra in Lycia (Byzantine territory), arrived in Bari, the Basilica di San Nicola was founded in 1087. This attracted pilgrims, whose encouragement and care became central to the economy of Bari. Pope Urban II consecrated the Basilica in 1089. In 1096 a crusader army embarked in the port of Bari for the First Crusade. After the murder of archbishop Griso in 1117 a civil war broke our and the control was seized by Grimoald Alferanites, a native Lombard, in opposition to the Normans. He later did homage to Roger II of Sicily, but rebelled and was defeated in 1132. The Castello Normanno-Svevo (aka "Castello di Bari") was probably built around 1132 by Norman King Roger II. When in 1155 the Baresi rebelled against the Normans, the castle got destroyed, so as a retaliatory action, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked") had the city destroyed except for the cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicola. Bari recovered and had its heydays under Frederick II. When he returned from his crusade after 1229, the city gates were locked so he had to use force to gain entry. Therefore, he probably had the fort built in 1233 to keep the city in check. On the other hand, he granted the city generous trade privileges and left it the leading role in the region. - The construction of the "Cattedrale di San Sabino" (aka "Bari Cathedral" started around 1170 on. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto. It is dedicated to Saint Sabinus, a bishop of Canosa, whose relics were brought here in the 9th century. It was erected on the site of the ruins of the Imperial Byzantine cathedral, destroyed in 1156 by William I of Sicily with the rest of the city. For the reconstruction of the cathedral materials from the preceding church and other destroyed buildings got reused. During the 18th century the façade, the nave and aisles and the crypt were refurbished in Baroque style. The building later underwent a series of refurbishments, demolitions and extensions. The apse window is a masterpiece of the Apulian Romanesque style of the late 12th century. Below the window sill is a relief depicting two peacocks within tendrils. To the left end right, supporting the columns are two elephants. They are rather small. Pina Belli D'Elia ("Puglia Romanica") compares them to chess pieces. On top of the columns are two monsters (a male and a female) with human faces, wings, claws and snake tails. They support the outer archivolt. On top of this is another monster that may be a beheaded sphinx holding its head, mouth wide open. The smaller inner archivolts are masterly carved and are populated with lots of animals and mythical creatures floating in vines.

Bari was an early settlement and passed under Roman rule in the 3rd century BC. It developed strategic significance as the point of junction between the coast road and the Via Traiana and as a port for eastward trade. The first bishop of Bari was Gervasius who is known from the Council of Sardica in 347. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the town was devasted and taken by Alaric´s Visigothic troops, then was under Lombardian rule, before the Byzantines took over. In 755 it was conquered by Pepin the Short (Charlemagne´s father) and from 847 on it was an Islamic Emirate. The Byzantine fleet returned in 871 and since 885 Bari ws the residence of the local Byzantine governor. Following a three-year siege, Bari was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071. After the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were surreptitiously brought from Myra in Lycia (Byzantine territory), arrived in Bari, the Basilica di San Nicola was founded in 1087. This attracted pilgrims, whose encouragement and care became central to the economy of Bari. Pope Urban II consecrated the Basilica in 1089. In 1096 a crusader army embarked in the port of Bari for the First Crusade. After the murder of archbishop Griso in 1117 a civil war broke our and the control was seized by Grimoald Alferanites, a native Lombard, in opposition to the Normans. He later did homage to Roger II of Sicily, but rebelled and was defeated in 1132. The Castello Normanno-Svevo (aka "Castello di Bari") was probably built around 1132 by Norman King Roger II. When in 1155 the Baresi rebelled against the Normans, the castle got destroyed, so as a retaliatory action, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked") had the city destroyed except for the cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicola. Bari recovered and had its heydays under Frederick II. When he returned from his crusade after 1229, the city gates were locked so he had to use force to gain entry. Therefore, he probably had the fort built in 1233 to keep the city in check. On the other hand, he granted the city generous trade privileges and left it the leading role in the region. - The construction of the "Cattedrale di San Sabino" (aka "Bari Cathedral" started around 1170 on. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto. It is dedicated to Saint Sabinus, a bishop of Canosa, whose relics were brought here in the 9th century. It was erected on the site of the ruins of the Imperial Byzantine cathedral, destroyed in 1156 by William I of Sicily with the rest of the city. For the reconstruction of the cathedral materials from the preceding church and other destroyed buildings got reused. During the 18th century the façade, the nave and aisles and the crypt were refurbished in Baroque style. The building later underwent a series of refurbishments, demolitions and extensions. The original Romanesque appearance of the interior was restored in the 1950s. Around the semicircle above the façade´s rose window sit fantastic, mythic and very evil monsters and beasts look down to the tourists. Some of them have the prey already between their claws.

In 831 an "ecclesia plebeia" is mentioned here, dedicated to Saint Martin. Excavations proved, that earlier churches did exist on the same spot from about 500 on. The church of today was erected in the early 12th century. St. Martin is world famous for the painted ceiling inside, created by an unknown artist around 1109 to 1114. It is still almost complete. Only very few of these works have survived the times in Europe. The only such ceiling I have ever seen is in St. Michael, Hildesheim, Germany. The ceiling here consists of 153 square panels (9 rows of 17 panels) of about 90 cm sides. They were painted upright and then inserted into the ceiling. Actually the painting reads like a map. There is a kind of frame, as the 48 panels outer panels (apart from the corner fields) show scenes on water - an ocean. The corners have angels, that may symbolize the four winds (directions). The "inner" 105 panels depict scenes on "land". Here themes are the life of Jesus - and Saint Martin, whom the church is devoted to. The "sea", that runs all around the ceiling is populated with many more horrible sea-monsters, while "inland" is a biblical scenery.

The 12th century church "Notre-Dame de Fleuriel" was once the seat of a priory, connected the abbey in Tournus. Now it is the parish church. It is known for the western portal. I had read, that it is one of the finest in the area of Bourbonnais. Well, the finer the work of art is, the more restauration and conservation it needs over the time. On this quiet sunday morning, I could slip under the cover and have a close look. But I did not find the right distance to take photos. This is a detail from the capital, on the right side of the door. I was pretty sure, that this is a mermaid, when I saw it first. Meanwhile I doubt that a bit. This could be as well a person growing out of the bud. Or it could be the head of a "tendrillar monster". After having entwined the small human body, it now swallows it.

The "Iglesia de Santa Maria" was built in the second half of the 12th century. From the little hill, the shoreline can be seen. The "Camino del Norte" (aka "Camino de la Costa"), the oldest known "camino" to Santiago de Compostela run along the northern coast, as moorish troops roamed the inland. Even in the 12th century, when this church was erected, this way was popular as the pilgrims could visit the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. The largest part of the "True Cross" (aka "Lignum Crucis") was venerated in that monastery, it had the privilege of perpetual indulgences. The "Iglesia de Santa Maria" is known for some extraordinary Romanesque carvings. Obviously the same artist, who carved the previous uploaded capital (beast fighting man), created this one, as here again heads just "grow" out of the background. There are either two beasts with multiple heads each - or a group of beasts.

The "Iglesia de Santa Maria" was built in the second half of the 12th century. From the little hill, the shoreline can be seen. The "Camino del Norte" (aka "Camino de la Costa"), the oldest known "camino" to Santiago de Compostela run along the northern coast, as moorish troops roamed the inland. Even in the 12th century, when this church was erected, this way was popular as the pilgrims could visit the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. The largest part of the "True Cross" (aka "Lignum Crucis") was venerated in that monastery, it had the privilege of perpetual indulgences. The "Iglesia de Santa Maria" is known for some extraordinary Romanesque carvings. A fight against monsters.

San Pedro de Echano (aka "Ermita de San Pedro de Echano") is not easy to find, as the church is a few kilometers east of Oloriz in the middle of fields and bushland. In medieval times, when the church got erected, there might have been a village or settlement nearby, but nowadays there are no houses near to the church. This church was a big surprise and I was lucky, to find the door open. A wedding was scheduled for that afternoon and so the interior of the church got cleaned and decorated. Outside, under the roof, are more than 30 carved corbels. There are a couple of frightening beasts (see previous upload), maybe they hunt in a pack. This horned, evil monster was very successful, two victims stuck out of the mouth.

There had been a small community of monks here, that end of the 11th century joined the important Benedictian Abbaye royale of Saint-Jean-d'Angély (20kms northwest), that was part of the cluniac network. The Abbaye royale got wealthy through the thousands of pilgrims on the Via Turonensis. They all stopped to see the relic of John the Baptist, before they continued, and obviously left some coins. The abbey could afford to build a prestigious abbey church for the monastic comunity in Marestay (now Matha) at the same time, when Saint-Hérie (see previous uploads), just 2kms apart from here, was erected. Probably the same monks, lay brothers and workers toiled on two construction sides in long double shifts. During the Wars of Religion many curches within the whole area got ruined and mutilated. In Saint-Herie, 2kms south, only two walls of the Romanesque church are still in place. Here the complete nave is missing. After the "Edict of Nantes" got revoked in 1685, all Huguenots living in Matha were evicted and exiled. Following that all protestant churches existing in the town got leveled to the ground. The only parts of Saint-Pierre that survived the incredible fury are the apse, the transepts and the crossing. Many capitals and corbels are still in place and can be found outside. The monster grabbed the couple greedily and instantly started to devour them both.

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 extraordenary. Compared to the facade, the interior of the single nave church seems sober. The carvings found inside the church are simple. At least three different workshops have worked in Fenioux over more than 5 deacdes. This was carved probably before 1150. Humanoid monsters with small, triangular ears were popular in the Saintonge in the first half of the 11th century. Saint-Jean-d'Angély, where Louis the Pious´ son Pepin I of Aquitaine had founded the "Abbaye Royale" (817), is just about 10kms away. This was a really important abbey during the "Romanesque time", but I could not find any connections in the literature.

Gensac-la-Pallue is a small town, about 10kms southeast of Cognac, with a population of 1500. Saint Martin is the large parish church of the town. It is not known, who financed this church, when it was erected within the 12th century (the choir and tower were added a century later) and there are no obvious connections to one of the important abbeys of the area, but for a parish church, built on swampy grounds, this is a pretty prestigious structure. Saint-Martin has a western facade, that is extraordenary, as not many churches in the Poitou have three horizontal registers/levels. A corbel under the roof, where a depressed, flaky monster devours a poor soul. The victim has not given up so far. He tries to salute by raising his arm with the clenched fist.

Only about 6kms north of the wonderful Romanesque church in Rioux (see previuos uploads) is Saint-Trojan in the center of Rétaud. Both churches seem to be closely related in many ways. They shared a very similar floorplan, when they were erected end of the 12th century. It looks like only one workshop worked in both villages. Just like in Rioux there is not much known, about the history of the building, that as well may have served as a priory church. The apse looks pretty much like the apse in Rioux, and some of the icons from the corbels in Rioux can be found here as well. Here is another hungry evil monster.

Only about 6kms north of the wonderful Romanesque church in Rioux (see previuos uploads) is Saint-Trojan in the center of Rétaud. Both churches seem to be closely related in many ways. They shared a very similar floorplan, when they were erected end of the 12th century. It looks like only one workshop worked in both villages. Just like in Rioux there is not much known, about the history of the building, that as well may have served as a priory church. The apse looks pretty much like the apse in Rioux, and some of the icons from the corbels in Rioux can be found here as well. One of them is this evil monster, devouring a poor soul. Though this icon is not really specific and can be found pretty often.

Not much is known about the history of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, an outstanding example of the specific "style saintongeais". As the structure is so masterly built and has such sophisticated carvings, it is believed, that this was a priory church, when it was built mid of the 12th century. The apse of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption has an enormous richness on Romanesque carvings. The corbels depict musicians, acrobats, mythical animals, chimerae and threatening creatures like this devouring monster. Only a tiny human arm can be seen, between the monster´s horrible teeth.

Not much is known about the history of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, an outstanding example of the specific "style saintongeais". As the structure is so masterly built and has such sophisticated carvings, it is believed, that this was a priory church, when it was built mid of the 12th century. The apse of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption has an enormous richness on Romanesque carvings. The corbels depict musicians, acrobats, mythical animals, chimerae and threatening creatures like this devouring monster. The victim looks very unhappy, what is understandable.

Notre-Dame is the parish church of Biron, a village 6kms east of Pons. Once the church was dedicated to Saint-Eutrope as a relic of "Saint Eutropius of Saintes", who came to the region to evangelize the Gauls in the 3rd century, was kept here. Erected within the 12th century the church got fortified soon after. During the 15th/16th century it got enlarged, the apse got vaulted and a chapel was added. Sculpted capitals can be seen high up in the dim light near the apse. Compared to the masterly carved works all over the Saintonge (and here outside as well), these carvings are rough and clumsy. Two creatures fight in the thick forest. The pilgrims had to cross many forests - and danger was everywhere.

Notre-Dame is the parish church of Biron, a village 6kms east of Pons. Once the church was dedicated to Saint-Eutrope as a relic of "Saint Eutropius of Saintes", who came to the region to evangelize the Gauls in the 3rd century, was kept here. Erected within the 12th century the church got fortified soon after. During the 15th/16th century it got enlarged, the apse got vaulted and a chapel was added. Sculpted capitals can be seen high up in the dim light near the apse. Compared to the masterly carved works all over the Saintonge (and here outside as well), these carvings are rough and clumsy. A pilgrim in his way to Santiago. Two evil "talking heads" to the right and a monster to the left.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there are three arches on the ground and second tier of five arches. Above these are eleven carved corbels (some of them seem new), supporting a small roof. One of these corbels has monster, devouring a soul.