Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: negroid

Pliny the Elder mentions Segontia in the 1st century AD in his work "Naturalis Historia" as a Celtiberian settlement. The area was taken by the Romans in the Numantine War (154-133 BC). After the end of the Western Roman Empire, the city was conquered by the Visigoths, who also founded the diocese of Sigüenza in 589. Taken over by the Moors around 712, the Christians reconquered the city in 1123. The construction of the cathedral began only a short time later, but it would take several centuries to complete. Today Sigüenza is a town with a population of about 4500. The Visigoths built a small castle in the 5th century above the town. The Moors built a large fortified castle in the early 8th century. It was enclosed by a defensive wall providing an area known as the medina. In 1124, the castle was retaken by Bernard of Agen allowing Simón Girón de Cisneros to build an episcopal palace there. In the 15th century, the castle was strengthened by the bishops to protect it from attacks from Aragon and Navarre. Construction of the cathedral began in 1124 after the expulsion of the Moors and the appointment of Bernardo of Agen as bishop. It was built on foundations previously occupied by a Visigothic church and then a Moorish mosque. The construction of the church lasted until the 15th century and in the 16th century it received Gothic elements - especially in the interior - and additions in the Renaissance style. The western facade is characterized by the robust towers in the medieval style of a church fortress. The portals on the south and west sides are preserved in the Romanesque style but with later Baroque and Classical additions. The cathedral, is composed of a Latin cross plant, with three naves, transept and a large apse, surrounded by the ambulatory. It is 80 meters long by 31 meters in width. The Gothic central nave is from the 14th century. The three naves are separated, by enormous pillars. The “Adoration of the Magi”. The work is Gothic, the three kings have no crowns and wear “normal” clothing. Even the tall (obviously black) servant (right) appears to be better dressed.

There have been five cathedrals on this site. One was destroyed by Visigothic troops mid of the 8th century. The successive cathedral was burnt down by Vikings ("Danes") in 858. The carolingian structure that was erected within the next decades was burnt down in 962 by troops led by Richard I of Normandy (aka "Richard the Fearless", "Richard Sans-Peur"). The rebuilding started again, but whatever was completed got destroyed by a fire, caused accidently, in 1020. The erection of a Romanesque cathedral started and most of the still existing crypt dates back to that building. In 1134, another fire damaged the town and large parts of the cathedral. The towers got repaired and rebuilt and the portal between them got created. Another blaze hit the town in June 1194. The cathedral was burnt down. Construction works started the same year. The western towers and the undamaged western portal ("Portail Royal") got integrated into the new building. The nave was already vaulted in 1220, the transept and the stained windows were completed in 1260. On 24 October 1260, only 66 years after the start of construction, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame was consecrated in the presence of Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme"). Since Charles the Bald, Louis the Pious´ son, had given the "Sancta Camisia" to the cathedral in 876. Because of this "Veil of the Virgin" Chartres developed into a very important Marian pilgrimage center in medieval times. The northern transept´s portal. There are scenes from the Old Testament - and the life of Virgin Mary. The portal was carved 1205-1210, so these works are 50 years younger than the statues of the "Portail Royal". The Magi often are accompanied by a groom, holding the horses. Here a small servant/soldier stands next to one of the Magi (seen partly to the right). If the statue was carved about 1210, it is some decades older than the statue od Saint Maurice in Magdeburg, claimed (in Magdeburg) as the oldest picture of an ethnic African in Mid-Europe.

The "Catedral de Santa Maria" in Huesca got erected over 300 years. The building started end of the 13th century in gothic style, replacing a mosque that had served as a church, since Huesca was conquered in 1096 by Christian troops led by Peter I of Aragon. The diocesan museum, that is hosted inside the cathedral displays an extraordenary collection of medieval art. As the Magi, following the Star of Bethlehem, were "role models" for many pilgrims following the camino on the way to Santiago de CompoSTELA, the Magi can often be found along the old "routes". Here are the Magi adorating Virgin and Child. One of the Magi kisses the child´s feet (just like seen in near Agüero). Please note that the left Magi is - black! Very common later, but absolutely uncommon for the time! I leaned, that the altarpiece, seen here in a detail, was donated by King Pedro IV to the cathedral in 1367. It was given in compensation for the seizure of silver lamps during the war again Peter I of Castile. 1367 this work was "state of the art".