Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Legenda Aurea

Ferrara appears first in a document of the Lombard king Desiderius of 753 when he captured the town from the Exarchate of Ravenna. Later the Franks, after routing the Lombards, presented Ferrara to the Papacy in 754. In 988 Ferrara was ceded by the Church to the House of Canossa, but at the death of Matilda of Tuscany in 1115, it became a free commune. During the 12th century, the history of the town was marked by the wrestling for power between the Guelph Adelardi and the Ghibelline Salinguerra families. The Ghibellines won and in 1264 Obizzo II d'Este was proclaimed lifelong ruler of Ferrara. His rule marked the end of the communal period in Ferrara and the beginning of the Este rule, which lasted until 1598. Near the present church of San Giuliano was already a church in the 13th century, demolished in 1385 to make way for the construction of the Castello Estense. The new church was built in 1405 by a citizen on land donated by Marquis Niccolò II. From the time of the Este family, this building housed the arts of innkeepers, goldsmiths and fishmongers until 1616, under the patronage of the Avogari, one of the city's most famous families. In 1796 the church was closed and remained closed for years. To prevent its desecration and possible demolition, the priest Count Don Pietro Dalla Fabbra bought the church. It changed hands a couple of times. It was restored in the 19th century and again in the mid-20th century. By now it is in the possession of the archdiocese. On the outside wall is this carving from the 15th century, depicting San Guiliano killing his parents. The legend of Giuliano (Julianus) originated in the 9th century. Jacobus de Voragine added it to the famous "Legenda Aurea". According to the tradition reproduced in the "Legenda Aurea", Giuliano unknowingly killed his parents. To atone, he made a pilgrimage to Rome. Afterward, he is said to have settled by a river and helped travelers cross.

Saint-Nicolas was erected in the 12th century just outside the northern city walls to serve a growing suburbian settlement. The facade and the tower date to the 12th century, while the nave is younger. The tympanum depicts Saint Nicholas and the three poor daughters. Jacobus da Varagine knew this story and wrote it down in the medieval bestseller "Golden Legend" (aka "Legenda Aurea"). Saint Nicholas helped a father of three daughters who had lost everything and feared he would have to prostitute the girls. Saint Nicholas came to the man's window three nights in a row, and each night he tossed in a bag of gold.

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. Here is one of the old, weathered carvings. From information given in Huesca I learned, that this may be connected to legend of Pope Sylvester I. This was later added by Jacobus de Voragine to the "Legenda Aurea", a medieval bestseller. As seen on the previous upload, Pope Sylvester I, seated on the cart, was on his way to Rome. When he had reached Rome, he healed (following the Legenda Aurea) Constantine the Great from leprosy. Constantine then, seen here, got baptized by Sylvester. The emperor was so grateful, that he did the "Donation of Constantine", transferring the authority over Rome and a part of the Roman Empire to the Pope. This is the begin of what is now known as "Vatican City", an independent state, ruled by the Pope. Already in 1433 Nicholas of Cusa identified the "Donation of Constantine" as a fake. The document was actually fabricated within the eighth century.

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. Here is one of the old, weathered carvings. From information given in Huesca I learned, that this may be connected to legend of Pope Sylvester I. This was later added by Jacobus de Voragine to the "Legenda Aurea", a medieval bestseller. Pope Sylvester I is seated on the cart. He holds a crozier. Sylvester is on his way to Rome.