Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: cast

Salerno (pop. ~ 130.000) is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The site has been one of the most important and strategic ports on the Mediterranean sea, yielding a rich Greco-Roman heritage. It was an independent Lombard principality in the early Middle Ages. The Normans in 1077 made Salerno the capital of their rule in all of southern Italy. In the 16th century, under the Sanseverino family, among the most powerful feudal lords in southern Italy, the city became a center of learning, culture, and the arts. Salerno has been the seat of an archbishop since 983 and the city's medical school is famous for being the first college or "university" of medieval Europe. The construction of the Cathedral was begun by Robert Guiscard in 1076. This was just three years after the Normans took over the city, which had previously been under Lombard rule for more than 400 years. The church, built on an early Christian church, that was built on the ruins of a Roman temple, was consecrated in 1084 and completed in 1085. Due to the short construction time, cracks formed repeatedly in the building over the centuries. After severe damage from an earthquake in 1688, the cathedral was restored with baroque alterations. In the 20th century, attempts were made to reconstruct the original facade. The bronze Door of the church was cast in Constantinople in 1099. It is made up of 54 panels mostly depicting Byzantine crosses. There is also the icon of two griffins drinking from a baptismal font. Although today the door has a greenish color typical of ancient bronze, it was once covered in gold and silver. Flanking the bronze door are prayers to St. Matthew in Armenian and Greek characters, and only recently deciphered. Details of this door.

Salerno (pop. ~ 130.000) is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The site has been one of the most important and strategic ports on the Mediterranean sea, yielding a rich Greco-Roman heritage. It was an independent Lombard principality in the early Middle Ages. The Normans in 1077 made Salerno the capital of their rule in all of southern Italy. In the 16th century, under the Sanseverino family, among the most powerful feudal lords in southern Italy, the city became a center of learning, culture, and the arts. Salerno has been the seat of an archbishop since 983 and the city's medical school is famous for being the first college or "university" of medieval Europe. The construction of the Cathedral was begun by Robert Guiscard in 1076. This was just three years after the Normans took over the city, which had previously been under Lombard rule for more than 400 years. The church, built on an early Christian church, that was built on the ruins of a Roman temple, was consecrated in 1084 and completed in 1085. Due to the short construction time, cracks formed repeatedly in the building over the centuries. After severe damage from an earthquake in 1688, the cathedral was restored with baroque alterations. In the 20th century, attempts were made to reconstruct the original facade. The bronze Door of the church was cast in Constantinople in 1099. It is made up of 54 panels mostly depicting Byzantine crosses. There is also the icon of two griffins drinking from a baptismal font. Although today the door has a greenish color typical of ancient bronze, it was once covered in gold and silver. Flanking the bronze door are prayers to St. Matthew in Armenian and Greek characters, and only recently deciphered.

Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, is situated on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. It is only 80 kilometres south of Helsinki. From the 13th century until the first half of the 20th century Tallinn was known as Reval. The first recorded claim over the place was laid by Denmark after a raid in 1219 led by Valdemar II. In 1227, the Order of the Brothers of the Sword conquered Reval and three years later recruited 200 Westphalian and Lower Saxon merchants from Gotland, who settled below the castle and were granted freedom of customs and land. In 1238 Reval fell back to Denmark, Under renewed Danish rule, the city rapidly grew in size and economic importance. In 1248, the Danish king granted it the Lübische Stadtrecht (town charter). Due to the strategic location, its port became a significant trade hub, especially in the 14–16th centuries when Tallinn grew in importance as the northernmost member city of the Hanseatic League. The king of Denmark sold Reval along with other land possessions in northern Estonia to the Teutonic Knights in 1346. In 1405–1420 the church obtained its current late Gothic appearance. In 1515 the tower was built higher and in late 17th century, it got a Baroque spire with airy galleries, which was raised higher stage by stage through several centuries. The tower is now 105 metres (344.5 ft) high. Saint Nicholas was the only church in Tallinn that remained untouched by iconoclasm brought by the Protestant Reformation in 1523. The church was converted to a Lutheran congregation in the 16th century. In 1944, the church was severely damaged by bombing. The resulting fire turned the church into ruins and destroyed most of its interior. Most art treasures survived thanks to their timely evacuation from the church. The renovation of the church started in 1953 and was completely finished in 1981. The church tower was again damaged by a fire in October 1982. The tower was burnt out. After a restoration the church was inaugurated in 1984 as a museum and concert hall. The massive seven-armed brass candelabrum is four metres high. It was cast in 1519 and was donated to the church by Hans Bouwer, a wealthy merchant.

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. - William II of Sicily built from 1172 here a fort-like complex of buildings, which included a cathedral, an archiepiscopal palace, a royal palace and a Benedictine monastery. In 1183 the monastery became the seat of the archdiocese of Monreale. The town then developed around this complex. According to a legend, William fell asleep while hunting. The Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream, suggesting him to build a church here. After removing a tree, a treasure was found, whose coins were used to finance the construction. Well, it is much more likely that Monreale was founded in competition with the bishop of Palermo, who had commissioned the large Cathedral of Palermo. This would explain the vast dimensions and the splendor of the "Duomo di Monreale" (= "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova"), that with the cloister, is the only building that survived the times. The cathedral´s large bronze doors were cast by Bonanno Pisano, who even signed "Bonannus civis pisanus me fecit". He was a well-known artist at his time and created as well the Porta di San Ranieri of the Pisa Cathedral. Depicted are scenes of the Old and the New Testament, starting with "Adam and Eve" and in "Christ and Mary in the glory of Paradise"