Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: spurs

A Roman settlement, named "Aeminium" existed here. When the neighbouring town "Conimbriga" got conquered and destroyed by the Suebes in 468, the survivors moved to "Aeminium" - and renamed it. The Visigoths under King Wittiza named the town "Eminio" later. In 714 the town was conquered by Muslim troops, who changed the name again. Coimbra was finally recaptured in 1064 by King Fernando de Castilla y León. Coimbra became the second capital of the Kingdom of Portugal (after Guimarãesin) 1139, a status that moved to Lisbon in 1256. The University of Coimbra, founded by Denis of Portugal (aka "Dom Dinis") in 1290, is one of the oldest in Europe. Coimbra hosts the "Machado de Castro National Museum", named after Machado de Castro, a Portuguese sculptor of the late 18th century. It has a wide, very interesting collection. Here are some examples. This knight depicts Domingos Joanes as proven by his military accoutrements – helmet, chain-mail, sword, footwear with spurs, and his heraldic device emblazoned on the shield which he bears. The sculpture is attributed to "Master Pero", a sculptor who moved to Portugal probably from Aragon and worked here from about 1325 to 1345. www.museumachadocastro.gov.pt/en-GB/2%20museu/ContentList...

This church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, was a real surprise to me. The single nave structure was probably erected within the 12th century. It was built in a "walking distance" off the pilgrim routes (like "San Pedro de Echano"), as the hamlet Artaiz is just about 10kms north of the "Camino Aragonés". San Martin will have been for sure a stopover for pilgrims, who had visited the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, following the "Via Turonensis". The masterly composed and carved portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Here is a script by German arthistorian Hedda Finke about this subject. art.unt.edu/medieval-symposium/presenter.php?year=2009&am... Between the seven corbels under the portal´s roof are six reliefs. This one is the only without a bible-theme. It depicts a fight between to knights, that may be the martial game of jousting, that was popular especially in England and Germany with the nobility upto the 16th century. The two knights are obviously quite experienced, as the won their spurs already. On the exhibitionist (?) seen before, on the right a christian warrior, armed with shield and lance.