Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: goat rider

Auxerre was a Gallo-Roman centre, then called Autissiodorum. It became the seat of a bishop already in the 3rd century. In the 5th century, it received a cathedral. Wine cultivations starting from the twelfth century made Auxerre a flourishing town. Auxerre suffered during the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion. In 1567 it was captured by the Huguenots, and many of the Catholic edifices were damaged. The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne is actually the 5th on the spot. The erection started in 1215 around the same time when the building of the cathedrals in Reims and Amiens started. The church was erected over a still existing crypt from the previous building (~ 1030). The choir was completed in 1235. At the same time, the construction of the facade began. The sculptured portal is dated to around 1320. I have been here a couple of times and have uploaded already many photos, so this time I will cut it down to just a few. Goat riders are strange icons one can find all over medieval Europe.

Mozac Abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in the Auvergne, dating back into Merovingian times. A legend tells that it was founded by Calminius (later Saint Calmin). He must have been pretty important and well off, as his name is connected to the foundations of three abbeys. He introduced the benedictian rules to the area, and brought (from Rome)a relic of Saint Peter and (from Agen) a relic of Saint Caprasius to Mozac. He got buried in the crypt of this church together with his wife Saint Namadie. Within the 9th century relics of Saint Austremonius, the first bishop of Clermont were transferred to Mozac, so already before Santiago de Compostella was on the map, this was a place of pilgrimage. In 1095 Mozac abbey got affiliated to Cluny, but was important enough, to have Hugue of Semur, nephew of Hugue of Cluny here as abbot. He was followed by Eustachius, brother of Petrus Venerabilis. Three churches could be traced here by archeologists, what can be seen today is "Mozac 3", a great church built within the first half of the 12th century. As most of "Mozac 3" got destroyed by a number earthquakes between 1437 and 1490. Actually only ruins can be seen. Apses, choir, ambulatory, radial chapels, transept and clerestorys were beyond repair, when the early reconstruction started - in gothic style. Most pillars and capitals of "Mozac 3" are still in place (in situ). Some / Most of the carvings here are so "perfect", that they seem to be much younger, even baroque, but all are - 12th century - romanesque. - Two men riding goats. Both have grabbed the goats by the horns and face the onlookers. They have friendly faces and wear a kind of cap, not a crown. The tails of the goats end up in foliage. This is one of two capitals with "goat-riders". See the next upload. I have seen another "goat-rider-capital" some time ago in Biozat. Unfortunately at that time, the church was under reconstruction, so I took no photo.. No. I do not think that this has anything to do with Freemasonry.