Images of Medieval Art and Architecture

France: Vézelay
Benedictine Abbey Church of Sante-Marie-Madeleine



Zodiac signs and Labors of the Months
on the  Central Portal in Narthex



 

Top (partial)- A man warming himself and a man undressing
Middle- Aquarius 
Bottom - A man cutting a loaf of bread

Top- Spring
Warrior with Shield
Sign of Taurus (Bull)
Man feeding Goats
Bottom- Sing of Aries (Ram)

 

Far Left - Spring (partial)
Sign of Gemini (Twins)
Reaping
Sign of Cancer (Crab)
A dog
An Acrobat
A Siren somersaulting
Sign of Leo (Lion)
Harvesting
Sign of Virgo 
Threashing (partial)

Top - Sign of Virgo
Threashing wheat
Wheat emptied into a container
Sign of Libra
Harvesting Grapes
Part of Sign of Scorpio

Top-Threashing wheat
Grain or flour emptied into a container
Bottom-Sign of Libra
 
 

Top-Harvesting Grapes
Sign of Scorpio
Bottom: Butchering a pig (partial)
 

Top - Sign of Scorpio
Butchering a pig 
Bottom- Sign of Sagitarius

Top - Sign of Sagitarius
Man carrying an old woman (Symbol of year's end?)
Bottom- Sign of Capricorn

Top- Sign of Capricorn
Bottom: A seated man holding a cup of wine. 
Inscription:   OMNIBUS IN MEMBRIS DESIGNAT IMAGO DECEMBRIS
(In all his aspects he represents December)


 


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VEZELAY
PORTAL MAP
VÉZELAY
FRANCE
INTRODUCTION


Created by G. David Donahue, July 1997
Updated by Jane Vadnal, December, 1997