Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: memento mori

The Vikings are thought to have founded a settlement near Tenby in the early Middle Ages. In the late 11th century, the Normans made Tenby their headquarters as the town had a good strategic location. During this time, there were frequent battles with the Welsh, who did not want to accept the seizure. Over the years, more and more Normans, French, English and Flemings migrated to south Pembrokeshire and settled under the protection of Tenby Castle. The town walls from this period are still largely intact today. In 1153, the town and castle were again conquered by the Welsh. The brothers Maredudd and Rhys ap Gruffydd attacked the castle with their troops. This attack was an act of revenge for the attack on their brother Cadell ap Gruffydd, who had been injured by soldiers while hunting near Saundersfoot. The brothers punished those responsible and then withdrew from the castle. In 1187, Welsh troops under Maelgwn ap Rhys conquered and plundered the town. However, the property soon passed back into Norman hands. The last Welsh conquest took place in 1260 by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd during his campaign to liberate Wales. The majority of the remaining building dates from the 15th century with some features retained from the 13th century. A memento mori is the effigy of a decomposed corpse.The is the late 15th century tomb of an unknown cleric

In late Saxon times, the manor of Paignton was owned by Leofric, the first Bishop of Exeter. Later bishops built the Bishop's Palace adjoining the parish church, some remains of which are still standing. The first church on this site was possibly a wooden structure but nothing remains above ground, although its foundations have been discovered. The Second (Norman) church was built about 1100 but this was almost completely demolished and rebuilt around 1250. Today, the church which can be seen is the third building to be established there and has been gradually transformed since the Middle Ages. A ‘memento mori’ - the depiction of the decaying body was intended to remind the viewer of the transience of life and the inevitability of death.

With around 250,000 inhabitants, Porto is the largest city in the north of Portugal. More than 1.7 million people live in the "Greater Porto area", the metropolitan region. The historic centre of Porto was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto because the wineries of Vila Nova de Gaia on the south bank of the Douro River are the centres for packaging, transporting and exporting the fortified wine. I have uploaded many photos from previous visits.So I will limit myself and only upload a few. A "memento mori" on azulejos by the artist Berriblue from Porto. www.berriblue.com

This is the entrance to the chapter house of the former "Abbaye Saint-Georges de Boscherville", founded by a chamberlain of William the Conqueror, and in existence upto the French Revolution. The abbey church serves the parish since then. Most buildings of the abbey got demolished after the Revolution, but the chapter house survived. I had been here about 10 years ago, when this part of the abbey was closed. This time I had more luck - and was surprised by originality and quality of the carvings. Flanking the entrance to the chapter house three large statues, holding banners. Next to the bishop/abbot (previous upload) this "pale" person is placed. His banner reads "EGO MORS HOMINEM JUGULO CORRIPIO" -"I am the Death - I cut the man´s throat". A "memento mori" for the monks.