Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Pantokrator

Troia was probably founded by Greek settlers under the name of Aecae. The current Troia was founded as a fortified town in 1018 the by the Byzantine general Basil Boiannes. For long it was a stronghold against the Normans and got besieged by the emperors Henry II and Frederick II, who destroyed the town in 1229. He did not touch the "Concattedrale della Beata Vergine Maria Assunta in Cielo", erected in the first quarter of the 12th century where a Byzantine church formerly stood, that was apparently constructed largely from the remains of Roman buildings. The Concattedrale di Troia, once the seat of the Bishops of Troia, now a co-cathedral in the diocese of Lucera-Troia, is reckoned a masterpiece of Apulian Romanesque architecture. In particularly it is noted for the bronze doors of the main portal, created in 1119 by Oderisio da Benevento in niello technique, who "signed" his work. For Ursula Mende ("Die Bronzetüren des Mittelalters") these are medieval masterpieces. This is the second left panel of the top row. Christus Pantokrator

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. The "Cappella Palatina" was built between 1132 and 1140 under King Roger II in the Norman-Arab-Byzantine style as the royal chapel inside the "Palazzo dei Normanni". It was consecrated in 1140, though it was not comleted when Roger II died in 1154. The "Cappella Palatina" was built between 1132 and 1140 under King Roger II in the Norman-Arab-Byzantine style as the royal chapel inside the "Palazzo dei Normanni". It was consecrated in 1140, though it was not completed when Roger II died in 1154. The interior is breathtaking for any visitor. Unfortunately, there are no seats for the elder who are blinded by the splendour.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. The "Cappella Palatina" was built between 1132 and 1140 under King Roger II in the Norman-Arab-Byzantine style as the royal chapel inside the "Palazzo dei Normanni". It was consecrated in 1140, though it was not comleted when Roger II died in 1154. The "Cappella Palatina" was built between 1132 and 1140 under King Roger II in the Norman-Arab-Byzantine style as the royal chapel inside the "Palazzo dei Normanni". It was consecrated in 1140, though it was not completed when Roger II died in 1154. The interior is breathtaking for any visitor. Unfortunately, there are no seats for the elder who are blinded by the splendour.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. The Martorana, overlooking the Piazza Bellini, is located next to the "Chiesa de San Cataldo" (right). The church is as well known under the name "Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio" and serves the Italo-Albanian parish of San Nicolò dei Greci, who officiate the liturgy according to the Byzantine Rite in the ancient Greek language. The church was founded by (Syrian) George of Antioch, Ammiratus (Admiral) of Rogers II of Sicily, and built in 1143. Originally it was built over the layout of a Greek cross-in-square, but it has undergone numerous structural changes and additions throughout history. In 1435 the church was annexed to the Benedictine convent of Eloisia Martorana. The interior of the church is breathtaking. During the iconoclasms the Byzantine Iconoclasms (730-850) Byzantine craftsmen and artists settled and worked in the west (eg Ravenna, Rome..). These mosaics were created by these artists. Christ Pantocrator under the dome. Because of its richness, the church was visited, in the late 12th century, by the Arab traveller Ibn Jubayr, who left a detailed description of the church, defined as “the most beautiful monument in the world”.

The village of Berghausen is part of larger Schmallenberg since some decades. It existed already around 1200, when St. Cyriakus was erected, a very small basilica. The church was built on the floorplan of a "greek cross" and originally had three apses. The small right apse got lost, when the sacristy was added. During a renovation in 1936 frescoes were discovered under the plaster. Most remarkable is this large apse fresco. Christ Pantocrator in a mandorla.

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. The west choir is its original state of 1150/60. The fresco also dates back to this time. Christ as Pantokrator in the center, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. They are flanked by Paulus (left) and Peter (right). Seen below are the other ten apostles - and a small person dressed in a white habit. This is the donor of the fresco, Albert von Aachen ("Albert of Aix"), author of "Historia Hierosolymitanae expeditionis", the history the first cruisade, who lived as a canon in Aachen (Aix la Chapelle).

Norbert von Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order In Premontre (near Laon) in 1120 - and already 10 years later (1130), after a donation, the first Premonstratensian monks could settle here. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181. After the Battle of Worringen (1288), that took place only about 10kms east, and later again when troops of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold aka "Charles the Reckless) in 1474 sieged the town of Neuss, the monastery got severly damaged. The eastern apse had to be rebuilt (in Gothic style). When Napoleon occupied the left bank of the Rhine, the last monks fled and the monastery got looted by the villagers. The complex got secularized and sold. It was ruined, when in 1895 the Spiritans ("Congregation of the Holy Spirit") acquired it. They renovated it and founded a seminary. It was seized by the Nazis in WWII, but after the war Spiritans could return. The west choir is its original state of 1150/60. The fresco also dates back to this time. Christ as Pantokrator in the center, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists. They are flanked by Paulus (left) and Peter (right). Seen below are the other ten apostles.

Assisi is located on a steep slope (accessible via escalators) and a site of many a pilgrimage. Even in winter it can be very crowded - and a day before, we had to turn back, as all parking lots in the valley below were full. A day later, in heavy rain, we tried it again - and were in luck. This "Cattedrale di San Rufino" of today is the third church on this spot. They had been built over the tomb of Saint Rufinus, Bishop of Assisi, martyred in the 3rd century. The construction of the cathedral was started in 1134. When in 1228 Pope Gregory IX was in Assisi for the canonization of Saint Francis, he consecrated the high altar of the cathedral, that was finally completed in 1253. Of course during the long time of construction, the church was in use already. Saint Francis was baptized here in 1182, Saint Clare in 1193. The Romanesque façade of the Assisi-Cathedral is one of the richest in Umbria. A more detailed view on to the tympanum´s center. A "Majestas Domini". The "Pantokrator" is crowned and flanked by sun and moon. I do not know, who is the person to the right (Joseph?). To the left is a crowned (!) Virgin - "lactans". I cannot remember having ever seen a "Nursing Madonna" (aka "Madonna Lactans", "Maria lactans") on a tympanum before. These icons were popular from the 14th century on. I do not know, why the icon is tilt. The inner archivolt has some nice "real life" scenes.