Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: warrior

There has been a church here since Saxon times and the base of the tower is Saxon. On the west wall is a blocked off Saxon doorway with a later oval window at the top. The battlemented top is later and probably late 12th century. The nave is Saxon/Norman although the clerestory and side aisles were added later. The chancel was rebuilt in the 19th century. 10th century Saxon/Viking crosses are displayed in the north aisle. This is the "Middleton Cross". A warrior with a pointed helmet, sword, axe, spear

The Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina is located on a hill in the hamlet Gropina, that meanwhile belongs to Loro Ciuffenna. A chapel existed here already in the 4th century. Soon after Charlemagne had donated the area to the Nonantola Abbey, Benedictian monks erected a church here end of the 8th century. The church of today was probably built within the 12th century. At that time this was one of the wealthiest parish church with the diocese, having about 30 depending churches. The nave is flanked by pillars, that all have sculpted capitals. The capitals of left and right side differ in style. Within some decades two workshops have worked here. Maybe even more. The remarkable pulpit is based on a knotted pillar, is a striking piece of art. Some scholars attribute it to a "Master of Campione" (or a workshop). This "Campione" workshop created as well some of the capitals. The mounted warriors, seen on the previous upload, are going to fight with the devil. Again there is the small nude male guy - and this is how the devil looks like. A really frightening, evil creature with an enormous humpback and an immense appetit for human warriors.

The Pieve di San Pietro a Gropina is located on a hill in the hamlet Gropina, that meanwhile belongs to Loro Ciuffenna. A chapel existed here already in the 4th century. Soon after Charlemagne had donated the area to the Nonantola Abbey, Benedictian monks erected a church here end of the 8th century. The church of today was probably built within the 12th century. At that time this was one of the wealthiest parish church with the diocese, having about 30 depending churches. The nave is flanked by pillars, that all have sculpted capitals. The capitals of left and right side differ in style. Within some decades two workshops have worked here. Maybe even more. The remarkable pulpit is based on a knotted pillar, is a striking piece of art. Some scholars attribute it to a "Master of Campione" (or a workshop). This "Campione" workshop created as well some of the capitals. Here are warriors on horsebacks, equipped with shields and lances. Between them a small nude male person. A devil? Italo Moretti and Renato Stopani ("Toscane romane") see the little guy as a symbol of heathenism.

It is proven, that a church existed here, before the Rotonda was erected in the early 12th century. This older, probably ruined building could have been originated in Lombard or Frankish times. Some artefacts, seen here, are reused parts of that former building. Not only the main entrance (prev. upload) is guarded. These (Lombard or Frankish) warriors flank the side door. A nunnery existed next to the church upto 1407, some of parts of the convent can still be seen.

It is proven, that a church existed here, before the Rotonda was erected in the early 12th century. This older, probably ruined building could have been originated in Lombard or Frankish times. Some artefacts, seen here, are reused parts of that former building. The tympanum is one of them, so this carving is centuries older than the rotunda. In the center is a warrior /guard holding a spear. A nunnery existed next to the church upto 1407, some of parts of the convent can still be seen.

Sovana, now a small town with a population of less than 500, was an important place during the early medieval period. A bishopric existed here already since the 6th century. Pope Gregory VII (aka "Ildebrando da Soana"), one of the key figures of the 11th century, was born here. The construction of the Cathedral was probably started, when Gregory VII was in power (1073-1085), but the progress was very slow. The portal, seen here, was completed within the 14th century, but - carvings are dated to pre-Romanesque times. According to Morretti/Stopano ("Romane toscane") these carvings were (re)used here. Seen on the left is a very clumsy mermaid. Above two birds flanking a "Tree of Life", a variation of the two birds drinking from a chalice. To the right is a warrior on horseback. Horses must have been pretty small in those days..

The abbey "Sainte-Marie d'Arthous" was founded around 1160. This was filiation of the Premonstratensian "Abbaye de la Case-Dieu" in Gers (120 kms east). The building of the church, seen here, was started soon after. It got already consecrated in 1167. The neighbouring bastide Hastingues was founded in 1289 by John Hastings, seneschal of Gascony. This was done following a treaty between Edward I of England, Duke of Aquitaine and the monks of the Abbaye d'Arthous. During the War of Religions the abbey got ruined and lost the importance it once had. Though restored, only 5 monks lived here in 1766, so after the Revolution the abbey was sold by the state - and used as a farm. Two warriors fight a scaly beast/dragon with two heads. The larger left head of the dangerous creature is damaged.

The single-nave church "Saint-Martin" in the center of Tollevast dates back to the 11th/12th century. Seigneur Henri de Tollevast, who fought on the side of William the Conquerer in Hastings, founded this church. His tomb can be found inside. The carvings inside Saint-Martin are strange and puzzling. Here are two dogs(?), running (?) over a small man. Is this man a beaten warrior, hunkering down? An Anglo-Saxon - and are the two dogs Norman lions, dancing over the man?

The Iglesia de Santiago stands surrounded by macchia at the end of a dust road about a kilometer southeast of Agüero. This isolated place is probably why it is named as well "Ermita de Santiago". It is a very strange structure and I did not have much information about. At one time within the 12th century somebody had started to build a pretty large basilica (- in the middle of nowhere). Obviously money was not an issue, as gifted sculptors and experienced builders left their marks here. Then - some decades later, the building process stopped, the church was never completed. No wonder, that the artist/workshop known as "Master of San Juan de la Peña" is even better known under the name of "Master of Agüero". I had seen his works in San Juan de la Peña and Sangüesa, but what he created here are real masterpieces. Here are the four capitals of the portal´s right side. To the left are two lions tearing a ram to pieces. Next is a female dancer, flanked by two musicians. The third capital depicts a flautist and another very flexible dancer. To the very right are two gesticulating men (one standing, one seated) obviously discussing. Then there two fighting warriors in chain mails. From this pov only one warrior can be seen.

The Iglesia de Santiago stands surrounded by macchia at the end of a dust road about a kilometer southeast of Agüero. This isolated place is probably why it is named as well "Ermita de Santiago". It is a very strange structure and I did not have much information about. At one time within the 12th century somebody had started to build a pretty large basilica (- in the middle of nowhere). Obviously money was not an issue, as gifted sculptors and experienced builders left their marks here. Then - some decades later, the building process stopped, the church was never completed. No wonder, that the artist/workshop known as "Master of San Juan de la Peña" is even better known under the name of "Master of Agüero". I had seen his works in San Juan de la Peña and Sangüesa, but what he created here are real masterpieces. Here are the corbels under the tympanum (see previous upload). They flank the wooden door and are easy to be seen by anybody entering the church. These two fierce, devouring lions are a warning. On the left a fully dressed warrior is caught. He is still fighting with a sword and a long club. One of his legs is already in the beasts mouth. One the right an obviously nude lady. Both of her legs are in the beasts mouth - and it looks like she waves farewell to the shocked onlookers.

Saint-Pierre was the church of one of the largest Augustinian abbeys in the Poitou, that was founded in 991 by Audéarde, the wife of viscount Herbert I of Thouars. The monastery was on one of the "chemins" of the Via Turonensis, so when the number of pilgrims increased, the Canons Regular of St. Augustine had this large church erected in two construction phases from the 12th century on. This church is very long and has a wide ambulatory. It could surely host large groups of pilgrims. When the era of the pilgrimage ended, the abbey declined and impoverished during the Hundred Years' War. Most conventual buildings were destroyed in the Wars of Religion. The abbey church now serves the parish. Saint-Pierre has an extraordinary density of medieval carvings. Most of these works are well preserved. Two corbel figures flank the pillar. For a while I saw the left one as a child, but I doubt that now. The person is just pretty small. Does the right person wear an apron? Knights are fighting on the capital above them