Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: spin doctor

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 splendour of the "Duomo di Monreale" and the adjoining cloister, the only structures of the large complex, that survived the times. The cloister (completed ~ 1200) measures 47x47 metres. Each side has 26 arches resting on columns. The carvings of the capitals (and the columns) are very detailed and complex, the themes vary and some capitals are "hard to read" and interprete. The "Dedication Capital" (prev. uploud), just seen, as "the Virtues" on all other sides. Here are under the inscription +IC DNS MAGNVS LEO CRISTVS CERNITVR AGNVS the virtues SPES and FIDES, flanking the Lamb of God. The virtues are crowned and so they are symbolically linked to the scene depicting the dedication of the cathedral to the Virgin. William II of Sicily is not only the donor, he is seems to be the personification of all virtues. A clear work of poltitical propaganda!

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 archepiscopal 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 splendour of the "Duomo di Monreale" and the adjoining cloister, the only structures of the large complex, that survived the times. The cloister (completed ~ 1200) measures 47x47 metres. Each side has 26 arches resting on columns. The carvings of the capitals (and the columns) are very detailed and complex, the themes vary and some capitals are "hard to read" and interpret. We saw the same icon inside the church as a mosaic, here the dedication is seen on a capital of the cloister: the presentation, by William II of Sicily, of the cathedral to the Virgin. The inscription reads "+REX Q CVNTA REGIS SICVLI DATA SVSCIPE REGIS". King William II strides out and presents his gift to the Virgin. He is supported by a flying angel. The model of the church precisely depicts the features of this basilica, bell tower, transept, and apses. Please note the Star of Bethlehem over Mary and Child. William II seems to have followed the Magis footsteps and so claiming to be the fourth Magi. A propaganda work of medieval spin doctors.

The construction of the Cattedrale di San Giorgio began in the early 12th century, when the city was taken by Matilda of Tuscany (aka "Matilde di Canossa"). When the new cathedral was consecrated in 1135 it was not completed at all. It was - and still is - located in the center of the city. The lower part of the facade is Romanesque was probably built in the first half of the 11th century. The building process was continued a century later in Gothic style. A "renovation" of the Ferrara Cathedral done in the early 18th century resulted in a demolition. Only the facade and the outer walls survived. The the medieval interior and the apses, that once existed are lost. The portal is attributed to Master Niccolò (aka "Nicholaus"), who (or his workshop) worked as well in Verona (San Zeno) and Piacenza (Cathedral). The lintel over the door depicts the biblical story from the Annunciation to the Baptism in the River Jordan (see previous upload). Here are the Magi. The Magi, seen in Ravenna, are about 6-7 centuries older. They wore phrygian caps and "leggings". Here the (elder!) Magi wear crowns and luxurious "mid european" clothing. The gifts they bring seem as well to be more valuable. At least the vessels are larger. Political spin-doctors have "morphed" the Magi to Kings. In medieval times they are mostly depicted as Kings, bringing them into a lineage to the contemporary Royalties. So the pious subjects should see them has forefathers of the medieval Emperors - and they probably did.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. Little Jesus, just a few days old, masters already the blessing gesture. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.

Zadar´s "Arheoloski Muzej", located next to the Roman Forum and St. Donatus holds an incredible collection of medieval artefacts. Here are details of carved panels, that were once part of an altar screen in the Church of St. Demenica ("Sv. Nediljica") in Zadar. They are dated 1030/1040. Zadar had been part of the Byzantine Empire upto about 1000, when after raids of pirates, it sheltered under Venetian power. - Obviously the cultural influence from Byzanz was still very strong. While on the left the shepherds watch the "First Bath" (under the Star of Bethlehem), Mary, seated on a folding chair, having Jesus on her knees, welcomes the Magi. The Magi resemble older carvings in Ravenna on the western side of the Adriatic Sea. Just like them, they wear phrygian caps. They are clearly "byzantine" in style. Younger carvings mostly show the Magi wearing crowns. A political symbol, probably invented by a gifted spin doctor, bringing the Magi into an ancestral line with the medieval Kings.