Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Metropolitan Museum of Art

According to some scholars, Aidone was founded at the end of the 11th century by the Normans during the conquest of Sicily and the expulsion of the Arabs, but it is more likely that the Normans confined themselves to refounding and repopulating a pre-existing village snatched from the Saracens. At the time of Frederick II Aidone most probably belonged to the direct possession of the king The Emperor allowed some soldiers from Piacenza to settle in Aidone- In 1229 the Knights Templar were allowed to build the church of San Giovanni. After the death of Frederick II in 1255, Aidone declared itself a free commune and was able to resist the attack of the Count of Catanzaro, who acted in the name of King Manfredi. However, in 1257 it was taken and plundered by the Swabian army led by Federico Lancia. Aidone took part in the revolt of the Sicilian Vespers and expelled the French garrison The ancient city of Morgantina was located in the territory of the present municipality. In the 6th century, BC Greeks settled on the citadel hill and lived peacefully with the locals. In 459 BC Morgantina was conquered by the Sicilian king Ducetius, who destroyed the Greek settlement. Duktios is credited with the rectangular layout of the city. Around 450 BC, the city was conquered by Akragas and became the property of Syracuse. At the time of the Greek politician Timoleon (~ 450 BC) the city experienced an upswing, as archaeological finds prove. However, Morgantina experienced its greatest prosperity in the time of the Syracuse King Timoleon (~ 280 BC). During the 2nd Punic War Morgantina was conquered by the Romans. Since about 1955 archaeologists have been excavating the ancient city. Their findings can be seen in the local museum, housed in a former Capuchin monastery. The "Morgantina treasure" is a set of Greek silverware dating from the 3rd century BC, illegally excavated from Morgantina. It includes two large bowls, a cup with two handles, plates, and several drinking utensils. It was probably excavated around 1978 and was bought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1981 and 1982. After protracted pressure, in 2010, the treasure was transferred from the Metropolitan to Rome, before returning to Sicily. The treasure was deposited in an ancient building of Morgantina, perhaps hidden there at the sack of the city in 211 BC. The creation of the objects is dated to around 240 BC.

San Gemini was probably founded by people having abandoned the Roman settlement of Carsulae, now an archeological area, about 5kms north. The "Regesto di Farfa" from 1036 is the first document that mentions the city as well as the "Abbey of San Nicolò". The abbey was built on older foundations in the 11th century and has undergone numerous alterations and restoration works through the centuries. It is privately owned, but fortunately a friendly gentleman unlocked the doors for us. Mille grazie! The portal to the abbey´s church is the by far most important carving here. What you see here is actually a (pretty good) copy, as the original was sold in 1939 to some antique dealers - and then was aquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is on display today. This is detail of the doorway´s left side. Three hunting dogs chase a boar. The dog (on top) wearing the collar is seen in a strange perspective - from above. Here is what the Metropolitan Museum writes about "This doorway is an example of the reuse of materials during the life of a single medieval church. All of the marble used to make the doorway originally came from the ruins of nearby Roman buildings. Displaying an array of styles and techniques, the principal elements were carved at different times in the eleventh century. The lions were possibly made for another location and then inserted in the portal. The whole was assembled for the church one to two centuries later. The animal imagery used in decorating the portal may refer to medieval bestiaries, books that combined descriptions of animal life with legend, thereby investing the animals depicted here with symbolic significance." Here is the website: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468207

San Gemini was probably founded by people having abandoned the Roman settlement of Carsulae, now an archeological area, about 5kms north. The "Regesto di Farfa" from 1036 is the first document that mentions the city as well as the "Abbey of San Nicolò". The abbey was built on older foundations in the 11th century and has undergone numerous alterations and restoration works through the centuries. It is privately owned, but fortunately a friendly gentleman unlocked the doors for us. Mille grazie! The portal to the abbey´s church is the by far most important carving here. What you see here is actually a (pretty good) copy, as the original was sold in 1939 to some antique dealers - and then was aquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is on dislay today. This is detail of the doorway´s let side. A snake approaching a bird's nest from above. The two nestlings have no chance at all. Here is what the Metropolitan Museum writes about "This doorway is an example of the reuse of materials during the life of a single medieval church. All of the marble used to make the doorway originally came from the ruins of nearby Roman buildings. Displaying an array of styles and techniques, the principal elements were carved at different times in the eleventh century. The lions were possibly made for another location and then inserted in the portal. The whole was assembled for the church one to two centuries later. The animal imagery used in decorating the portal may refer to medieval bestiaries, books that combined descriptions of animal life with legend, thereby investing the animals depicted here with symbolic significance." Here is the website: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468207

San Gemini was probably founded by people having abandoned the Roman settlement of Carsulae, now an archeological area, about 5kms north. The "Regesto di Farfa" from 1036 is the first document that mentions the city as well as the "Abbey of San Nicolò". The abbey was built on older foundations in the 11th century and has undergone numerous alterations and restoration works through the centuries. It is privately owned, but fortunately a friendly gentleman unlocked the doors for us. Mille grazie! The portal to the abbey´s church is the by far most important carving here. What you see here is actually a (pretty good) copy, as the original was sold in 1939 to some antique dealers - and then was aquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is on dislay today. This is the left side of the doorway. Here is what the Metropolitan Museum writes about "This doorway is an example of the reuse of materials during the life of a single medieval church. All of the marble used to make the doorway originally came from the ruins of nearby Roman buildings. Displaying an array of styles and techniques, the principal elements were carved at different times in the eleventh century. The lions were possibly made for another location and then inserted in the portal. The whole was assembled for the church one to two centuries later. The animal imagery used in decorating the portal may refer to medieval bestiaries, books that combined descriptions of animal life with legend, thereby investing the animals depicted here with symbolic significance." Here is the website: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468207

San Gemini was probably founded by people having abandoned the Roman settlement of Carsulae, now an archeological area, about 5kms north. The "Regesto di Farfa" from 1036 is the first document that mentions the city as well as the "Abbey of San Nicolò". The abbey was built on older foundations in the 11th century and has undergone numerous alterations and restoration works through the centuries. It is privately owned, but fortunately a friendly gentleman unlocked the doors for us. Mille grazie! The portal to the abbey´s church is the by far most important carving here. What you see here is actually a (pretty good) copy, as the original was sold in 1939 to some antique dealers - and then was aquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is on dislay today. Here is what the Metropolitan Museum writes about "This doorway is an example of the reuse of materials during the life of a single medieval church. All of the marble used to make the doorway originally came from the ruins of nearby Roman buildings. Displaying an array of styles and techniques, the principal elements were carved at different times in the eleventh century. The lions were possibly made for another location and then inserted in the portal. The whole was assembled for the church one to two centuries later. The animal imagery used in decorating the portal may refer to medieval bestiaries, books that combined descriptions of animal life with legend, thereby investing the animals depicted here with symbolic significance." Here is the website: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468207