Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Queen of Saba

Bitonto, today a city of a population of about 55000, was probably founded by Greek settlers. Traces of a city wall dating to the 5th and 4th century BC were found. Legends tell that the name Bitonto is connected to an Illyrian king named Botone. Later "Civitas Butuntinenses" became a self-governing Roman municipium, A Paleochristian basilica existed very early. During the 9th century, Bitonto successfully withstood a Saracen raid but got destroyed by Byzantine troops in 975. The Normans took over Apulia. In the 11th and 12th century. Under the rule of the Normans of Roger II of Sicily, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked) and William II of Sicily (aka William the Good), the city prospered and got new walls. In 1227, Bitonto was the scene of ex-communication of Frederick II accused by pope Gregory IX of having come to terms with the sultan al-Malik al-Kamil. - The Bitonto Cathedral, dedicated to San Valentino, was erected 1175/1200 in the centre of the city. The construction was probably influenced by the "Basilica of San Nicola" in Bari and was done in the typical "Apulian Romanesque" style. It is proven that the bishopric existed in 1089, though the crypt of the cathedral has remains of a 5th-century church. - Originally the ambo was placed on the right side of the nave but during the Baroque alteration of the church, the ambo was dismantled in the 17th century. Most, but not all parts of the ambo survived, in 1720 the ambo was assembled again at the place, where it is now. This is probably the most prominent and for sure the most disputed piece of art here. The triangular carving is part of the bannister-rail of the ambo. Four persons, one sitting. three standing. Two standing on small boards. It is obvious that this is not a piece created by Magister Nicolaus, as it lacks any elegance. There is no written medieval proof that tells who created it - nor who are the persons depicted. The "message" that may have been clear in the 12th/13th century got lost. So there are only theories. I quote some following Pina Belli d'Elia, author of "Puglia romanica" (Zodiaque): Scholars Schubring and Bertaux: Frederick II is sitting. - Scholar Avena: Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, is sitting, standing 2nd from right is Constance, Queen of Sicily (his wife). - Scholar Schulz: The 2.nd person from right is Virgin, surrounded by the Magi. - Scholar Venturi: King Salomo being visited by the Queen of Saba. Maybe scholar Schaller is right, as connects the carving to a sermon held here after the emperor had defeated a revolt of some Apulian cities in 1229. For Schaller, this is a homage to the house of Stauffer. For him, there are fltr: Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, (aka Barbarossa) handing the sceptre to (his son) Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Next is Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, followed by )his son) Conrad IV, Holy Roman Emperor.

La Chaise-Dieu was founded in 1043 by Robert de Turlande. It was named "Casa Dei", from which La Chaise-Dieu developed. From the 11th to the 13th century, the abbey experienced rapid and significant development. When the founder died in 1067, already 300 monks lived here. In the Auvergne La Chaise-Dieu gained importance similar to that of the Burgundian Cluny Abbey. The abbey received many donations from noble families and administered 42 daughter monasteries. Popes who visited the abbey include Urban II, Calixt II, Alexander III. and Innocent II. In 1342, Pierre Roger, who had lived as a monk in La Chaise-Dieu, became Pope in Avignon under the name Clement VI. He financed a new building of the abbey church, in which he was finally buried. The building was completed in 1378 under the pontificate of Gregory XI, a nephew of Clement VI. Since 1516 La Chaise-Dieu, like most other French abbeys, became "in commendam" so the commendatory abbot drew the revenue of the monastery but without fulfilling the duties of the abbot or even residing at the monastery. Calvinist troops looted the abbey in August 1562. After most of the monastery buildings were destroyed by fire in 1695, they were rebuilt by the monks in the decades that followed. In 1786, Cardinal de Rohan, who was involved in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" was exiled to La Chaise-Dieu. While the abbey had 40 monks at that time, religious life ended at the beginning of the French Revolution. La Chaise-Dieu is known for the tapestries, once woven to embellish the monks´ choir. They were commissioned by Jacques de Saint-Nectaire and were woven by a Flemish workshop between 1501 and 1518. The collection includes 14 tapestries of which two are different and may have been ordered by the abbot for his personal use. The 12 other tapestries constitute a complete continuation of the Annunciation to the Last Judgment. An inventory prior to the Revolution mentions 18 tapestries, so four tapestries have therefore disappeared. The tapestries were only exhibited during major liturgical feasts. They were rolled up and kept during the troubles during the Wars of Religion and the Revolution. In 2013 the tapestries were removed. They got restored and returned to the abbey in July 2019. I was lucky to see them in August 2019. The Adoration of the Magi is seen in the centre, left is David longing for water from Bethlehem (Samuel 23:15), to the right the "Queen of Saba".