Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Sleeping Magi

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. Only a few large structures survived the fury. One of them was the Basilica di San Lorenzo (see previous uploads). The Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio, located only about 500 ms south of the Basilica di San Lorenzo, existed already since centuries at that time, as it was founded in the 4th century. The name refers to Eustorgius I, the bishop of Milan (~350). It is attributed to Eustorgius to have translated the relics of the Magi to the city from Constantinople in 344, a present of Roman Emperor Constantius II (337-361). This legend came up in the 12th century, when the "new" Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio was erected in Romanesque style. When Milano was sacked by Frederick Barbarossa, Rainald von Dassel, who had just become Archbishop of Cologne and Archchancellor of Italy, entered the Basilica. In 1164 he brought the bones of the Magi with him to Cologne as loot from Milan and as a gift of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Since then the relics are in the Cologne Cathedral, where they are kept in the "Shrine of the Three Kings". Of course the Magi were never forgotten in Milan and in 1903 some fragments of the holy bones were sent back from Cologne. Here the Magi are seen in front of Herod´s throne (right), then the icon of the "Sleeping Magi" can be seen on the left. The Magi are not sleeping in a bed, but sitting on chairs. The Adoration is in the center - under ox, ass and an orchestra of angels. The altar is from 1347, attributed Jacopino da Tradate.

Already within the 5th century existed a church here, at that time far out of the city walls of Como. It served at the bishop´s seat upto 1007, when Bishop Alberico moved the seat into the town - and the church entrusted to the Benedictines. The monks, with strong support of Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") rebuilt the basilica between 1022 and 1095. Pope Urban II consecrated the new basilica in June 1095, about 6 months before he preached the First Crusade on the Council of Clermont. There are parallels between Sant'Abbondio and cathedrals erected the same time north of the Alps. Henry II was the last emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, who have been powerful sponsors for many churches within the Holy Roman Empire. The extraordinary frescoes of the apse are attributed to an otherwise unknown "Master of Sant'Abbondio". They are dated 1315 - 1324. Here are on the left the "Adoration of the Magi" and on the right the "Sleeping Magi". An angel warns them not to return to Herod.

Already within the 5th century existed a church here, at that time far out of the city walls of Como. It served at the bishop´s seat upto 1007, when Bishop Alberico moved the seat into the town - and the church entrusted to the Benedictines. The monks, with strong support of Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") rebuilt the basilica between 1022 and 1095. Pope Urban II consecrated the new basilica in June 1095, about 6 months before he preached the First Crusade on the Council of Clermont. There are parallels between Sant'Abbondio and cathedrals erected the same time north of the Alps. Henry II was the last emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, who have been powerful sponsors for many churches within the Holy Roman Empire. The extraordinary frescoes of the apse are attributed to an otherwise unknown "Master of Sant'Abbondio". They are dated 1315 - 1324. Here are Nativity and "First Bath", Adoration of the Magi, the "Sleeping Magi"