Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: genital

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. When I had found San Quilico (St. Cyr) I realized, that the distance to Santa Maria was just about 500 metres. And they both looked very similar seen from this point of view. They were certainly built at the same time within the 13th century. Oral tradition knows, that the chapels were built by a father (San Quilico) and his son (Santa Maria). The family was clearly influenced by the Pisan style. When I had found San Quilico (St. Cyr) I realized, that the distance to Santa Maria was just about 500 metres. And they both looked very similar seen from this point of view. They were certainly built at the same time within the 13th century. Oral tradition knows, that the chapels were built by a father (San Quilico) and his son (Santa Maria). The family was clearly influenced by the Pisan style. Other than the sober and unpretentious Santa Maria San Quilico is richly adorned with many carvings. Located at a prominent place over the choir stands this nude gentleman, a medieval exhibitionist.

Saint-Nazaire was erected in the 12th century. The church has a very elaborate southern portal (prev. upl.). The geometrical design of the archivolts is typical for the "style saintongeais". Above the archivolts are some interesting corbels. The (for me) most enigmatic of the portal´s corbels. There are two different angels and three details (the face is the right corner is turned around, to make it more "visible"). There are two men. One on top of the other. One has the face up, one down. He wears a beard. Inbetween the genitals of the top person?? Or is the top person a woman (headdress)..? ? What is then inbetween them? Male and female genitals??? Maybe you can give some explanation.

Vicofertile, located at the old Via Francigena, is meanwhile is a small suburb of the City of Parma. A church probably existed in Vicofertile already within the 9th century, but the church mentioned in a document from 1039 was smaller than the church seen here. Excavations found the foundations about 50cms under the floor of San Geminiano. Today´s church was erected around 1200. The roof burned down in 1325, but got rebuilt soon after. The church got modified a couple of times, but a a restoration undertaken in the early 20th century got rid of all interior Baroque additions. The capitals were probably created 1220/1230 - and all six are somehow enigmatic. Seen here is a strange bestiary of animals (left and right) and in the center a male exhibitionist presenting his enormous genital.

Castile and Mauricio, the Bishop of Burgos. Ferdinand had just married Barbarossa´s granddaughter Beatrice of Swabia (aka "Elisabeth of Swabia") and wanted a cathedral, reflecting his new role in the European power game. The former Romanesque cathedral got demolished and on July 20, 1221, the construction of the new Gothic started under the guidance of an unknown French architect. After nine years, the chevet was completed and the high altar was consecrated. Then the construction stopped for about 200 years. Attending the Council of Basel (aka "Council of Florence") in 1435 bishop (and diplomat) Alfonso de Cartagena saw the just completed, elegant towers of the Basel Minster. When he returned to Burgos he was accompanied by German architect Johannes von Köln (aka "Juan de Colonia"), who probably knew the blueprints of the towers, planned for the Cathedral of Cologne. Under his guidance the towers of the Cathedral were completed in open tracery. He was followed on the construction site by his son Simon de Colonia. Francisco de Colonia, Simon´s son, continued the work and created the Pellejería-Portal. This was a family business. There are many slim and fit apes and monkeys here (see previous uploads). This one is different. The monkey is fat, clumsy, chained and vandalized. Somebody has chipped off - a drum? Or an ithyphallus? I browsed through Amandine Gaudron´s "Le singe médiéval". There are many musicians, dancers and acrobats, but I could not find an exhibitionist.

A priory, dependent from the Abbaye Royale in Saint-Jean-d'Angély, existed here in the 12th century, the church Saint-Germain was erected end of that century. The church is known for the southern portal, which is a Romanesque masterpiece. Some of the corbels of the transept and all around the apse are as well beautiful. Are there two persons - embracing each other ? And what is the subject inbetween them? Or is there a male genital? If so the corbel depicts a nude man. There are some more of these ithyphallic / megaphallic persons under the roofs of Poitous´ medieval churches.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. There are many corbels under the roof of Saint-Pierre. This one depicts conjoined, male twins.