Thursday, May 23, 2013

Roncesvalles. The Dead, the Chandelier, the Cross


Roncesvalles has been a site of death as well as inspiration.  Battles against Moors, and Pilgrims on the Way of Saint James, to Santiago de Compostela.  Many died through the years here.  Not all were soldiers.

First, to the pilgrim, and soldier, but what army?  Franks not likely, since the chapel was constructed several years after the battle against the Moors.  Were the markers collected from the field? where?

and other unknowns.





The cross on this marker inside Charlemagne's Chapel, where these kinds of stones are lined up against the walls on and on:  Traditional crucifixion-shape cross, tall vertical bar, short horizontal placed at upper half, but with bent-flaggy shape leaning to the left on top, and a point-dagger below. Figure visible, I think, at base. Keyhole shape for the entirety?

Bannered cross with pointed base.

I do not see that particular configuration at the usual collections of cross sites, see, for example, google's cross shapes at https://www.google.com/search?q=cross+shapes&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=oPkMUpbIDsnk4APfzYAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=640

How to report this one?  This chapel is peopled with these markers all along the walls.


Interior, Chapel of Charlemagne, built long after but perhaps on top of, earlier structure. Ossuary.  Round-top, keyhole shape, lollypop, shape -- by whatever description, unusual and meanings need to be researched. For a view of the interior, see http://spainroadways.blogspot.com/2013/05/roncesvalles-ibaneta-hill-chapel-church.html

Another bannered cross, the next in line in the interior wall here:  The first we showed here has a numeral 2 inscribed, and this has the numeral 3.  What are those?



Get an idea of the extent of the battlefield in Charlemagne's defeat at this vantage point.


Charlemagne's chandelier, also seen in Germany at Aachen, and elsewhere.  Collecting those comparisons now.



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