Perrecy-les-Forges - Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Benoît

The church of the former Priory Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Benoît is now the parish church of the village. When I visited Perrecy-les-Forges in April 2011 I had the impression, that the church and the museum were locked since years.

Charles Martel, grandfather of Charlemagne and leader of the frankish armee in the Battle of Tours (732), gave the Perrecey estate to his brother Childebrand as a gift to thank him for defeating the Sarascens in the valleys of the Rhone and the Saône in 732. Childebrands heirs bequeated it to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire.

First monks settled here 880/885. Some parts of the westwork may date back to the 9th century. 1020/1030 a romanesque basilica was constructed here. 1120/1130 the large narthex was added, which is - a unique masterpiece.

This capital - for me - is the most interesting in Perrecy-les-Forges. Decades ago during my first year at university I wrote an essay, dealing with the subject "Medieval Elephants". There were only three elephants during medieval times:

Abul Abbas, a present from Harun al Raschid to Charlemagne. Abul Abbas reached Aix La Chapelle in 802 died 810 after swimming in the Rhine.

The Cremona-elephant was a present from Al Kamil to Frederik II in 1229.

The third elephant was brought to Europe by Louis IX (Saint Louis) in 1255. It was given to Henry III and died in London 1258.

There was not a single elephant in Europe between 810 and 1229, and this capital was carved 1120/1130. - It may be, that the carver of this "exotic" capital, was a well travelled person, but I doubt it.

It is a phantastic carving designed completely out of rumours about a giant animal living far behind the horiziont.

The animal would have a large nose or trunk, long teeth - and totally "uncommon" feet. Over the distances, the size of the ears got lost and the feet got fanshaped, but that is all details. Actually these elephants are pretty precise! I have built up a collection of medivale elephants, if you want to see more, just follow the link:

www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/galleries/7215762494...