Carvings on Churches along the Via Francigena · Aug 5, 09:32 PM by James Martin
If you ever need an interesting hobby while you wander Italy, you might just try looking a little closer to the carvings on Romanesque churches along the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. Evidently made to warn illiterate peasants of the dangers of immoral behavior, they can sometimes be sexual or just plain odd.
Take the image below, cropped from a larger picture of the incredible carved area over the door, the lunette of the Duomo di San Moderanno in Berceto, Italy.
What’s going on here? A horse in mittens tries to play the harp? What’s that little guy doing to the big guy on his right? Why are their hands so big? Are they wearing old style baseball gloves?
Take a good, long look at carvings in churches next time you’re around one. You just might be surprised—or mesmerized.
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