new :
cestas
aire - a stop on the french wild west, bordeaux to the spanish
border - the n10 and a63 
Transbordeur
bridges in France and the world 2: focus on Portugalete, Chicago,
Rochefort-Martrou
Germans
in France - St. Quentin cathedral
Germans
in France
Reims
cathedral
Cambrai
cathedral
Soissons
cathedral
Arras
cathedral
Gustave
Eiffel’s first work: the Eiffel passerelle, Bordeaux
a
dream unfulfilled - the transporter bridge [pont transbordeur],
Bordeaux
a
fifth bridge coming to Bordeaux: pont Bacalan-Bastide, a new
vertical lift bridge
the
6th bridge at Rouen: Pont Gustave Flaubert,
new vertical lift bridge
Ile
de France, Paris: in the context of Abelard and of French
cathedrals
France’s
western isles: Ile de Ré
France’s
western iles: Ile d’Oleron
on first arriving in France - driving
France is not England
Marianne - a French
national symbol, with French definitive stamps
the
calendar of the French Revolution
la
belle époque
Grand Palais,
Paris
Pic
du Midi - observing stars clearly, A64
Carcassonne,
A61: world heritage fortified city
Futuroscope
Vulcania
Space
City, Toulouse
the
French umbrella & Aurillac
50
years old:
Citroën DS
the
Citroën 2CV:
a French
motoring icon
the
forest as seen by francois mauriac, and today
places
and playtime
roundabout
art of Les Landes
le pique-nique
Hermès
scarves
bastide towns
mardi gras!
carnival in Basque country
what a hair
cut! m & french pop/rock
country
life in France: the poultry fair
short biography of Pierre
(Peter) Abelard |
mediæval porch at Dax cathedral.
The subject is the judgement day, although Jesus, the judge, is missing.
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[1]
Apostles to the left of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[2]
Apostles to the right of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[3]
how many apostles?
Although traditionally there are twelve Apostles, they are chosen from a pool of sixteen, listed below. Each man has one or more symbols, which can vary, to enable their recognition. For those that were martyred (killed), one of the symbols will be the method of killing:
- Bartholomew: large knife, processional cross, human skin (he was flayed
alive).
- John the evangelist [gospel writer]: youngest apostle so shaven, book
(sometimes open), chalice with a dragon or serpent.
- (Simon) Peter: key(s) to heaven, triple cross, fish.
- James the Greater: pilgrim’s staff,
scallop shell/s, large pilgrim’s hat, book, scroll, sword.
St James was banished to the (then) furthest point from Rome: Compostella
on the tip of Spain, since then a popular christianist pilgrimage destination.
- James the Lesser: book, fuller’s club.
- Jude Thaddeus: medallion with profile of Jesus, boat, anchor, pen, book,
axe.
- Matthew: winged man, pen, inkwell, bag of coins, money box, purse, spear,sword,
halberd, lance.
- Philip: elderly man, basket of loaves, T-shaped cross.
- Simon Zealot: large saw, oar, two fish, lance.
- Thomas: builder’s T-square, spear.
- Judas Iscariot: noose.
Some of these apostles may be exchanged for:
- Mark the evangelist: book, winged lion.
- Luke the Evangelist: book.
- Mathias: lance. (Mathias was chosen by the other apostles after Judas betrayed Jesus.)
- Paul: cross-hilted sword.
The exchanges are:
-
Judas may be replaced by Mathias
- Simon or may be replaced by Luke or Mark
- Mathias may be replaced by Luke or Mark
- Jude Thaddeus may be replaced by Paul.
some detailed notes on the portal at dax
Below is provided full details on the statuary in the photographs. Note that the statue positions within the archway are oriented as if facing outwards. Thus the ‘good guys’ (resurrected) are on the right (of Jesus/god) and the ‘bad guys’ (devils, cursed) are on the left. [The Apostle statues are not part of this classification.]
- Arch: virgins, saints and characters from the Old Testament
Within the arch, from top to bottom
• top row: two angels
• second row: space where Jesus statue is missing, flanked by two kneeling angels
• third row: Jesus’ mother, Mary; angel; St Michael [unrestored] weighing the souls of the faithful. To our right, a devil tries to upturn the scales; angel; St John. All the characters, except St Michael are imploring Jesus’ mercy.
• bottom row: Resurrection of the dead.
To the viewer’s left is the resurrection of the Elect: “Come ye, blessed of my father”. These leave their sepulchres with no difficulty and happily walk away to paradise.
To the viewer’s right is the resurrection of the Cursed: “Depart thee from me, ye Cursed”. These struggle to remove the tombstones, and are taken to hell by grinning devils. The faces of the cursed grimace with pain and fear.
In the centre, between the doors, is Jesus giving blessings with his right hand [damaged], and holding the Book of Doctrines in his left hand. One either side are statues of the twelve apostles.
-
Statues of Apostles to right of Jesus [to the viewer’s left]
- Peter: holding a key in his right hand, the book of Judgement in his left.
- Andrew: holding part of a saltaire cross [saltaire: diagonally oriented]
- both hands missing
- facing away from Jesus, holding an open book - possibly Judas Iscariot
- left hand: a book, right hand: a staff - possibly James the lesser, or Luke
- Statues of Apostles to left of Jesus [to the viewer’s right]
- balding man, holding hammer (?) in right hand, open book in left hand - possibly Philip
- James the Greater: right hand lost (probably holding a staff), left hand holding a book, bag decorated with scallop shells
- John the Evangelist: youngest apostle (no beard), holding book decorated with a bird [probably an eagle] and four stars (?)
- right hand: staff, left hand: book, with cloak draped over hand and arm - possibly Matthew
- right hand missing, left hand as if holding/supporting something
- Thomas: holding builder’s T-rule
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