Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: beard-puller

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul", using the local pinkish sandstone, started around 1150. The gothic-style crossing tower was added around 1300. The basilica-sytle church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Though some of these got damaged during the French Revolution, most of them are still in place. Size and the quality of some of them is really breathtaking. The architecture of this church is sometimes compared with a medieaval reliquary-shrine - and there are analogies indeed, but I see parallels as well to churches in the Lombardy. When in 1622 a troop of mercenaries led by Peter von Mansfeld burnt down the whole village of Rosheim, this building was the only one, that survived. A legends tell, that it was defended by angels. - On the left the chin-pullers, seen before. Thanks to Paula I found this links about medieval beard-pullers. www.beyond-the-pale.org.uk/beardpullers.htm Anthony Weir has the theory, that beard-pulling is a metaphor of masturbation. Wel, could be... If Mr. Weir is right, it may be interesting the the carving of the two chin-pullers is placed prominently on the corner - and the chin-pullers are via the arcade connected to more male heads. All have the same physiognomy, the same expression - and the same moustache. That is worth another thought. When all men here look the same - then all men may be the same sinners. .. and on the other side of the church is a very nice mermaid! www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5388244363/

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul", using the local pinkish sandstone, started around 1150. The gothic-style crossing tower was added around 1300. The basilica-sytle church has the classical layout of a latin cross and is known for the carvings. Though some of these got damaged during the French Revolution, most of them are still in place. Size and the quality of some of them is really breathtaking. The architecture of this church is sometimes compared with a medieaval reliquary-shrine - and there are analogies indeed, but I see parallels as well to churches in the Lombardy. When in 1622 a troop of mercenaries led by Peter von Mansfeld burnt down the whole village of Rosheim, this building was the only one, that survived. A legends tell, that it was defended by angels. - I wrote this when I uploaded photos I took in in autumn 2010. Now in spring 2011 I just had to return to Rosheim - and the see same church again under a different light. This time I had more time and so I found some details I had not seen before. - There is a certain type of male couples in medieval art, called "beardpullers" as that is what they normally do. These two gentlemen, having parted their long hair nicely down the middle, wear elegant moustaches, so the "traditional" beard-pulling is not possible for them. So they become "chin-pullers". The head of the right person is larger. They seem very static. The pulling seems to be a ritual or are they just waiting patiently in this specific gesture for the carver to finish his work. I am sure, that there is a certain meaning in beard- or chin-pulling, but so far I have no clue.

Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, just 7kms east of Castelviel, is a bastide, founded in 1281 Edward I of England (aka "Edward Longshanks"), who ,as a vasall of the French king, was Duke of Aquitaine. Though the wall around the bastide was demolished in the 19th century, to give room for urban development, four of the old gates still exist. The hamlet of Le Puch, just north of Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, has this church, dedicated to Saint Christopher in the center of its cemetery. It dates back to the 11th century. Though it got altered and restored many times. The 12th-century-portal has a row of seven corbels. On the right hand side is this complex corbel. Three persons are to be seen. A musician with a large harp or psaltery to he right. Two acrobats to the left. One contortionist is seen performing (feet on his head), while the other one pulls his long beard.