Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: stele

Cáceres goes back to the Roman fortress Castra Caecilia, which was built in 79 BC. A Celtiberian settlement that dates back to around 35 BC. In the 6th century, large parts of the city were destroyed by the invading Visigoths and only later rebuilt by the Moors. The Arabs rebuilt the city, including a wall, palaces, and various towers. Cáceres was reconquered by the Christians in 1229. During this period the city had an important Jewish quarter. In the 15th century when the total population was 2,000, nearly 140 Jewish families lived in Cáceres. The Jewish population was expelled by Queen Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1492. Cáceres flourished during the Discovery of the Americas, as influential Spanish families and nobles built homes and small palaces there, and many members of families from Extremadura participated in the voyages where they made their fortunes. Today Cáceres is a city with a population of about 100.000. The museum is located in the historic town of the city and is housed in two historic buildings, the “Palacio de las Veletas” and the “Casa de los Caballos”. Stele / 3rd-2nd millennium BC BC

Civaux, a village with a population of about 1000, has a history rooting very deep. Humans populated the area already, when stepp bisons and mammoths were hunted. Many "pre-historic" artefacts have been excavated in and around Civaux, proving that this place was inhabited over tens of thousands of years. A settlement stood on the site of the village in Gallo-Roman times, and there are still traces of Roman temples. Excavations have revealed the sites of a theater (capacity 3000), a fortified camp, and the foundations of many villas. This has been a place of very early christianisation. The funeral stele, seen here, has been found , a pagan temple and a very early baptisterium were excavated next to the church. A polygonal pse was probably built as will around 400, what actually means that this church, dedicated to Saint Gervais and Saint Protais is one of the oldest in France. At that time a kind of pilgrimage must have developed. The relics of Saint Gervais and Saint Protais had been miraculously discovered by Saint Ambrose in Milan in 386, so the saints got very popular in Merovingian times, but that does not explain the enigma of Civaux. The village stands in the center of a huge merovingian necropolis. As the many sarcophagi were sold as water basins or troughs in later time, the exact number of graves is unknown. Serious estimations are between 15.000 and 20.000 graves. There are parallels to nearby Saint Pierre in Cauvigny (16 kms north). The same colours as in Chauvigny were used here during the restauration of the interior. This stele was found here and is now mounted into the wall of the apse. It is dated to the end of the 4th century and is probably one of the oldest traces of Christianity in the Poitou. The inscription below the Chi-Rho symbol reads AETERNALIS ET SERVILLA VIVATIS IN DEO Aeternatis and Servilla lived in God.

Civaux, a village with a population of about 1000, has a history rooting very deep. Humans populated the area already, when stepp bisons and mammoths were hunted. Many "pre-historic" artefacts have been excavated in and around Civaux, proving that this place was inhabited over tens of thousands of years. A settlement stood on the site of the village in Gallo-Roman times, and there are still traces of Roman temples. Excavations have revealed the sites of a theater (capacity 3000), a fortified camp, and the foundations of many villas. This has been a place of very early christianisation. A funeral stele has been found dating to around 400, a pagan temple and a very early baptisterium were excavated next to the church. A polygonal apse was probably built as will around 400, what actually means that this church, dedicated to Saint Gervais and Saint Protais is one of the oldest in France. At that time a kind of pilgrimage must have developed. The relics of Saint Gervais and Saint Protais had been miraculously discovered by Saint Ambrose in Milan in 386, so the saints got very popular in Merovingian times, but that does not explain the enigma of Civaux. The village stands in the center of a huge merovingian necropolis. As many sarcophagi were sold as water basins or troughs in later time, the exact number of graves is unknown. Serious estimations are between 15.000 and 20.000 graves. Special thanks to the lady of the "Archaeological Museum Civaux", who helped me a lot. A funerary stele from late Roman times, found in Civaux. A person holding a spade (oar or walking stick), accompanied by a child with holding a little bag (?). Mother and child? www.tourisme-vienne.com/en/activite/88/musee-archeologique