Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Greek Cross

Otranto occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. It gained importance in Roman times, as it was the nearest port to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. After the end of the Roman Empire, it was in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it surrendered to the Norman troops of Robert Guiscard in 1068. The Normans fortified the city and built the cathedral, that got consecrated in 1088. When Henry VI., son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, married Constanze of Sicily in 1186 Otranto came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen and later in the hands of Ferdinand I of Aragón, King of Naples. Between 1480 and 1481 the "Ottoman invasion" took place here. Troops of the Ottoman Empire invaded and laid siege to the city and its citadel. Legends tell that more than 800 inhabitants were beheaded after the city was captured. The "Martyrs of Otranto" are still celebrated in Italy, their skulls are on display in the cathedral. A year later the Ottoman garrison surrendered the city following a siege by Christian forces and the intervention of Papal forces. - Otranto had been one of the last Byzantine strongholds in Apulia, but finally had to surrender Robert Guiscard. It had probably been such a stronghold, as Otranto had been the kernel of "Magna Graecia" the Byzantine area in Apulia. It even hosted an autocephalous bishopric, only dependent of the patriarchal see of Byzantium since 968. San Pietro is a Byzantine basilica a testimony of the Byzantine dominion in Terra d'Otranto upto 1068. It is dated to the 9th/10th century, built on the blueprint of a Greek Cross, which is typical for this period of Byzantine architecture

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). Next to the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione", where the Duomo di Bergamo (aka "Cattedrale di Sant' Alessandro") is now, stood the Cathedral of St. Vincenzo already in the 5th century. After rebuilding the church in the Romanesque area, a new cathedral was erected by Filarete ("Antonio di Pietro Averlino") in 1459. The building of today was built on plans by Carlo Fontana, dating from 1688. The dome was completed in 1883, the neo classical facade in 1889.

Nin, today a small town, was a very important place during medieval times. The first Croatian state was formed at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century, when Nin became the seat of the first Croatian bishop. Upto the 13th century Nin was the Croatian royal town and according to the tradition, seven Kings were crowned here. The Church of the Holy Cross was erected around 800. It is known as "the smallest cathedral in the world" as it may have been connected to the early diocese of Nin. The tiny church was erected on a floorplan of a Greek Cross and was probably used as a "Royal Chapel" by the neighbouring court. The oldest Croation inscription can be found inside the tiny church. It reads "Godečaj". Please read about "Gottschalk of Orbais" (Latin: Godescalc) on the previous upload. Inside "Svetoga Križa". The windows are somehow "irregular". According to one scholar the design has an intentionally elliptical form designated to "follow" the position of the Sun. So this church may have been a kind of calendar. This would be surprisingly unusual but not unique. Some French cathedrals (eg. Vezelay) have a kind of "equinox-design".

Nin, today a small town, was a very important place during medieval times. The first Croatian state was formed at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century, when Nin became the seat of the first Croatian bishop. Upto the 13th century Nin was the Croatian royal town and according to the tradition, seven Kings were crowned here. The Church of the Holy Cross was erected around 800. It is known as "the smallest cathedral in the world" as it may have been connected to the early diocese of Nin. The tiny church was erected on a floorplan of a Greek Cross. The oldest Croation inscription can be found inside the tiny church. It reads "Godečaj". "Gottschalk of Orbais" (Latin: Godescalc) ? He has been here, for sure. Gottschalk was a monk, who had had been educated in Fulda under the abbot Hrabanus Maurus. He was a strong believer in the doctrine of absolute predestination. He deserted his monastery and preached his doctrine in Northern Italy. Through the influence of Hrabanus Maurus, then archbishop of Mainz, he had to leave Italy and continued preaching in Dalmatia, Pannonia and Noricum. Gottschalk was at Duke Trpimir I of Croatia's court for two years. In 848 he presented to the synod at Mainz a profession of faith and a refutation of Hrabanus Maurus´ ideas. He was convicted of heresy, beaten and sent back to his monastery at Orbais. A year later, at a council, presided over by Charles the Bald, he attempted to justify his ideas, but was again condemned as a heretic. He was degraded, whipped, obliged to burn his declaration of faith, and sent to the monastery of Hautvilliers. Gottschalk however continued to defend his doctrine, writing to the most eminent theologians, what resulted in a great controversy. Gottschalk, imprisoned since two decades, went deathly ill and Hincmar, archbishop of Reims, forbade him the sacraments or burial in consecrated ground unless he would recant. Gottschalk refused to do. He died between 866 and 870. Of course the Romans have been here - and left ruins of a temple and an amphitheatre. The capital in the foreground may come from there.

Nin, today a small town, was a very important place during medieval times. The first Croatian state was formed at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century, when Nin became the seat of the first Croatian bishop. Upto the 13th century Nin was the Croatian royal town and according to the tradition, seven Kings were crowned here. The Church of the Holy Cross was erected around 800. It is known as "the smallest cathedral in the world" as it may have been connected to the early diocese of Nin. The tiny church was erected on a floorplan of a Greek Cross. The oldest Croation inscription can be found inside the tiny church. It reads "Godečaj". "Gottschalk of Orbais" (Latin: Godescalc) ? He has been here, for sure. Gottschalk was a monk, who had had been educated in Fulda under the abbot Hrabanus Maurus. He was a strong believer in the doctrine of absolute predestination. He deserted his monastery and preached his doctrine in Northern Italy. Through the influence of Hrabanus Maurus, then archbishop of Mainz, he had to leave Italy and continued preaching in Dalmatia, Pannonia and Noricum. Gottschalk was at Duke Trpimir I of Croatia's court for two years. In 848 he presented to the synod at Mainz a profession of faith and a refutation of Hrabanus Maurus´ ideas. He was convicted of heresy, beaten and sent back to his monastery at Orbais. A year later, at a council, presided over by Charles the Bald, he attempted to justify his ideas, but was again condemned as a heretic. He was degraded, whipped, obliged to burn his declaration of faith, and sent to the monastery of Hautvilliers. Gottschalk however continued to defend his doctrine, writing to the most eminent theologians, what resulted in a great controversy. Gottschalk, imprisoned since two decades, went deathly ill and Hincmar, archbishop of Reims, forbade him the sacraments or burial in consecrated ground unless he would recant. Gottschalk refused to do. He died between 866 and 870.

Nin, today a small town, was a very important place during medieval times. The first Croatian state was formed at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th century, when Nin became the seat of the first Croatian bishop. Upto the 13th century Nin was the Croatian royal town and according to the tradition, seven Kings were crowned here. The Church of the Holy Cross was erected around 800. It is known as "the smallest cathedral in the world" as it may have been connected to the early diocese of Nin. The tiny church was erected on a floorplan of a Greek Cross. The oldest Croation inscription can be found inside the tiny church. It reads "Godečaj". Is this "Gottschalk of Orbais" (Latin: Godescalc). It is sure, that he has been here, Gottschalk was a monk, who had had been educated in Fulda under the abbot Hrabanus Maurus. He was a strong believer in the doctrine of absolute predestination. He deserted his monastery and preached his doctrine in Northern Italy. Through the influence of Hrabanus Maurus, then archbishop of Mainz, he had to leave Italy and continued preaching in Dalmatia, Pannonia and Noricum. Gottschalk was at Duke Trpimir I of Croatia's court for two years. In 848 he presented to the synod at Mainz a profession of faith and a refutation of Hrabanus Maurus´ ideas. He was convicted of heresy, beaten and sent back to his monastery at Orbais. A year later, at a council, presided over by Charles the Bald, he attempted to justify his ideas, but was again condemned as a heretic. He was degraded, whipped, obliged to burn his declaration of faith, and sent to the monastery of Hautvilliers. k however continued to defend his doctrine, writing to the most eminent theologians, what resulted in a great controversy. Gottschalk, imprisoned since two decades, went deathly ill and Hincmar, archbishop of Reims, forbade him the sacraments or burial in consecrated ground unless he would recant. Gottschalk refused to do. He died between 866 and 870.

"San Giovanni di Sinis", sited at the entrance of the present day village "San Giovanni di Sinis", is one of the oldest churches on the island of Sardinia. It was erected next to a Punic, Roman and then paleo-Christian necropolis in the 6th century. At that time Sardinia was part of the Byzantine Empire. Originally the church consisted out of a central body, surmounted by a dome, and four identical arms ("Greek Cross"). Here is the dome - constructed about 1500 years ago. San Giovanni di Sinis got altered and underwent an extension between the 9th and 11th century, when the aisles and a part of the nave were added. Since then not much has changed.

"San Giovanni di Sinis", sited at the entrance of the present day village "San Giovanni di Sinis", is one of the oldest churches on the island of Sardinia. It was erected next to a Punic, Roman and then paleo-Christian necropolis in the 6th century. At that time Sardinia was part of the Byzantine Empire. Originally the church consisted out of a central body, surmounted by a dome, and four identical arms ("Greek Cross"). Here is the crossing with the dome, probably the oldest part of San Giovanni di Sinis. The little apse is to the right. San Giovanni di Sinis got altered and underwent an extension between the 9th and 11th century, when the aisles and a part of the nave were added. Since then not much has changed.

"San Giovanni di Sinis", sited at the entrance of the present day village "San Giovanni di Sinis", is one of the oldest churches on the island of Sardinia. It was erected next to a Punic, Roman and then paleo-Christian necropolis in the 6th century. At that time Sardinia was part of the Byzantine Empire. Originally the church, seen here from east, consisted out of a central body, surmounted by a dome, and four identical arms ("Greek Cross"). San Giovanni di Sinis got altered and underwent an extension between the 9th and 11th century, when the aisles and a part of the nave were added. Since then not much has changed.

"San Giovanni di Sinis", sited at the entrance of the present day village "San Giovanni di Sinis", is one of the oldest churches on the island of Sardinia. It was erected next to a Punic, Roman and then paleo-Christian necropolis in the 6th century. At that time Sardinia was part of the Byzantine Empire. Originally the church, seen here from east, consisted out of a central body, surmounted by a dome, and four identical arms ("Greek Cross"). San Giovanni di Sinis got altered and underwent an extension between the 9th and 11th century, but since then not much has changed.

"San Giovanni di Sinis", sited at the entrance of the present day village "San Giovanni di Sinis", is one of the oldest churches on the island of Sardinia. It was erected next to a Punic, Roman and then paleo-Christian necropolis in the 6th century. At that time Sardinia was part of the Byzantine Empire. Originally the church consisted out of a central body, surmounted by a dome, and four identical arms ("Greek Cross"). San Giovanni di Sinis got altered and underwent an extension between the 9th and 11th century, but since then not much has changed.