Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Weighing of the Soul

The parish church of Vigois is the last structure of the former "Abbaye Saint-Pierre", founded here by Yrieix du Limousin (aka "St. Yriex", "Aredius") within the 6th century. So the "Abbaye Saint-Pierre" was one of the oldest convents within the Limousin. In the 9th century the Normans (Vikings) looted and ruined the abbey. After some decades, the abbey recovered and got rebuilt. In 1070 it burnt down. Since 1082 it was dependent from Cluniac Saint-Martial Abbey in Limoges and prospered during the 12th century. Destroyed again during the Hundred Years War, rebuilt again by the Bishop of Limoges. During the Wars of Religions Huguenot troops burnt down the nave of the church and vandalized many of the carvings. Another fire hit the church in 1705, when it fell into disrepair. All buildings of the convent got demolished after the French Revolution, only the Saint-Pierre, now the parish church, survived the times. The renovation of the nave was completed in the 1860s. Apse and crossing, seen here, got restored early 20th century. The large apse never got severely damaged. Only some carvings are mutilated, but most of the capitals, dating back to the 12th-century, are still in situ. Around the apse are some interesting capitals. This is one of them, though it seems so unweathered compared to the other carvings around, that it may be newer. It depicts a psichostasia, the the "Weighing of the Soul". A theme, I had just seen in Lagrauliere, just 10kms east.

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower. Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower. The Cistercians may not have been the first here, as despite Bernard of Clairvaux´s damnation of sculptural works, the Romanesque portal of Saint-Marcel is remarkable. This may be a proof of an earlier influence from some unknown Cluniac place. The left side of the portal. The structure shows parallels to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne with the pillar in front of the carving. Here are two halfs, of which the left one is in a much better state, than the right one, where some parts are missing. Over the arch of the left side is a miniature scene of Romanesque architecture. This may stand for a monastery. When this was placed here, the villagers knew exactly, which one. Below is a large angel, swinging a censer. He stands at the end of a bed, in which a person is taking the dying breath. The right side is pretty damaged or weathered. A mourning person sits next to the bed, while the soul is just leaves the body - and either an angel or a devil grabs the soul. Note that a lamp is hanging from the pillar and "lightens" the scene, this creates a "reality" of background and foreground for the onlooker. He is looking "into" a room through a transparent wall. -- This was my first impression - Meanwhile I doubt, that the angel swings a censer.... The angel holds a scale (the balance beam is broken off). What I saw as a censer and what I saw as a lamp - both are pans. There is even a small head looking from the left pan! This is a psichostasia, the the "Weighing of the Soul". The bedpost seen on the left is carved, What a luxury! This is probably the death of a rich person.