Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: purse

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges. The abbey church, built in eleventh/twelfth century, got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures and added details. There are two blind arches flanking the central entrance. Here are the archivolts over the left blind arch. Avarice is a deathly sin, so that the misers, holding their filled purses, are tortured by evil devils. No mercy! Here is a close up.

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges. The abbey church, built in eleventh/twelfth century, got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures and added details. There are two blind arches flanking the central entrance. Here are the archivolts over the left blind arch. Avarice is a deathly sin, so that the five misers, holding their filled purses, are tortured by evil devils. No mercy!

A harbour and a settlement existed here during Roman times already. A parish and a church Saint-Fortunat is mentioned in 1136, when Pope Innocent II confirmed a donation of the Abbey La Chaise-Dieu (Haute Loire). The erection of the church, seen today, started within the 12th century, but the structure got severely damaged during the 100 Years´ War and got rebuilt in Gothic-, later altered in Renaissance-style. The church is rather large for a small town with a population of less than 900. The Romanesque facade dating back to the 12th century is undamaged and very complete, what is a surprise, as the village was a stronghold of the Protestants. The stone, used by the carvers in the Saintong end of the 12 century, was very soft. So very elaborate works were possible. Due to the softness, some of the works are pretty weathered meanwhile. A miser, holding his well filled purse, on the left - and a poor guy on his knees, begging for small change, on the right.

Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul is probably one of the oldest existing churches in the Poitou area, as some Gallo-Roman walls and Carolingian were used, when this church got erected in pre-Romanesque style, during the 10th century. It got remodelled, rebuilt, enlarged many times over the centuries. The nave was built within the 12th century, so all capitals were carved at that time. The previous upload had a horrible devil pulling a sinner down to hell. Here is the sinner. Avarice is a vice - and the miser still holds his moneybag between the knees.