Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: virtues

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!

Saint-Léger is the parish church of Royat in the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand. This was once the church of a priory, depending from Mozat. The structure has a complex building history. Dating back to the 11th century, the building got a first fortification within the 13th century. Construction went on and on over centuries. The left of the capitals in the nave just seen (on the preceding photo). There is a grape bearing vine to the right. Next is a young person holding a sword. On the left a bearded man, holding a scale. I had the impression, that this was a kind of echo of the "virtues", seen in Volvic (15mks north), where a soldier, holding a spear, stands for "fortitudo" and a man, holding a scale" stands for "iustitia". Actually even the fence-like background of the carvings is similar. Zygmunt Świechowski ("Sculpture romane d'Auvergne") had the same idea. But why does the soldier wears civilian clothes, why is he floating. There is another theory - see the next photo.

Since 2006 Argenton-Château and two other villages form the new commune Argenton-les-Vallées. The rocky outcrop, overlooking the valley, was a strongly fortified place in medieval times. The chateau was home of a powerful family. In 1069 the Lord of Argenton Geoffroy de Blois hands over the church of Saint-Gilles to the Benedictine monks of the Bourgueil Abbey, who since then had a priory here. This was a kind of family business, as the abbey was founded 990 by Emma de Blois, Duchess of Aquitaine. The church mentioned was a predecessor of the church seen here. From 1100 on the priory belonged to the abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. A new church was erected in the 12 century, replacing the older one. The facade, seen here, dates back to that church, while the most parts of the church result from a reconstruction of the 15th century. Details from the second archivolt. Knights (virtues) fight beasts (vices). Here "FIDES : IDOLATRIA". Unfortunately the vandals of the Revolution did a great damage here. The state the carvings have now, is the result of a decade long restoration process.

Since 2006 Argenton-Château and two other villages form the new commune Argenton-les-Vallées. The rocky outcrop, overlooking the valley, was a strongly fortified place in medieval times. The chateau was home of a powerful family. In 1069 the Lord of Argenton Geoffroy de Blois hands over the church of Saint-Gilles to the Benedictine monks of the Bourgueil Abbey, who since then had a priory here. This was a kind of family business, as the abbey was founded 990 by Emma de Blois, Duchess of Aquitaine. The church mentioned was a predecessor of the church seen here. From 1100 on the priory belonged to the abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. A new church was erected in the 12 century, replacing the older one. The facade, seen here, dates back to that church, while the most parts of the church result from a reconstruction of the 15th century. Details from the second archivolt. Knights (virtues) fight beasts (vices). Here "(LIBID)O : CASTITAS". On the right to of the "wise virgins" of the third archivolt. Unfortunately the vandals of the Revolution did a great damage here. The state the carvings have now, is the result of a decade long restoration process.

Since 2006 Argenton-Château and two other villages form the new commune Argenton-les-Vallées. The rocky outcrop, overlooking the valley, was a strongly fortified place in medieval times. The chateau was home of a powerful family. In 1069 the Lord of Argenton Geoffroy de Blois hands over the church of Saint-Gilles to the Benedictine monks of the Bourgueil Abbey, who since then had a priory here. This was a kind of family business, as the abbey was founded 990 by Emma de Blois, Duchess of Aquitaine. The church mentioned was a predecessor of the church seen here. From 1100 on the priory belonged to the abbey of Saint-Jouin-de-Marnes. A new church was erected in the 12 century, replacing the older one. The facade, seen here, dates back to that church, while the most parts of the church result from a reconstruction of the 15th century. The portal, mutilated during the French Revolution, is clearly influenced by works in Civray and Aulnay, that may only be decades older. The smallest archivolt has an Agnus Dei in the center and three slender angels on either side. The next archivolt is populated with knights fighting evil creatures. The knights symbolize virtues, the beasts symbolize the vices. This is made clear by the inscriptions (eg IRA, LARGITAS, AVARICIA, CONCORDIA..). The "Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins" can be seen on the third and the 12 apostles and Christ in the center on the fourth archivolt. The outer archivolt has the signs of the zodiac and the labors of the months.