Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Roman de Renart

The first church probably existed here, on the siland of Murona, already in the 7th century. A large church, named "Santa Mariae plebis Murianensis" was erected within the 10th century. Legends connect the building to Otto I, and it is proven that it was completed in 999. This church got rebuild around 1040. In 1125, the relics of St. Donatus, that had been attained by the Venitian forces, led by Doge Domenico Michele, were translated to this church. The church and the campanile are built with red bricks. Santa Maria e San Donato, once the cathedral of the Bishops of Murano and Torcellino, is known for the fantastic floor mosaics and cosmatesque decorations, that, following the inscription, seen here, was completed 1140. The mosaics cover the complete floor of the church. The "Funeral of Fox", going back to one of Aesop´s fabels. The story (the fox only only pretends to be dead - and in the end..) was as well told in the very popular "Le Roman de Renart" written down around 1170 in Northern France. Similar mosaics are in Venice (San Marco) and Ravenna (San Giovanni Evangelista).

In the center of Modena, where the Duomo di Modena (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e San Geminiano") is placed, churches have existed since the 5th century. After the burial site of Modena's patron Saint Geminianus, a former bishop (+397), was dicovered here, the existing cathedral seemed to small. The first stone laying for the cathedral of today took place in May 1099, strongly supported by Matilde di Canossa (aka "Matilda of Tuscany"). First architect was Master Lanfranco, descibed as "maestro ingenio clarus [...] doctus et aptus". The Duomo di Modena was consecrated in 1184, but the building process continued. It was finally completed in 1322. Many renowned sculptors have worked here. The "Porta della Pescheria", as well as side portal, opens to the north, where in mediavel times the fish-market was located. The "Porta della Pescheria", as well as side portal, opens to the north, where in mediavel times the fish-market was located. I learned that the archivolt depicts a scene from the Arthurian Legend. Older Welsh and Breton tales about Artur were written down in the "Historia Regum Britanniae" written by Geoffrey of Monmouth around 1136. This carving may be a little older. It is dated to 1130. Artus is the second on the left, the only one without a chainmail. The lintel has other stories. To the left a young nude guy rided a hippocamus. The followig reliefs may relate to the French "Roman de Renart", written by Pierre de St. Cloud from 1174 on, based party on Aesop's fables. The artists probably knew as well the "Physiologus".