Autun - Cathédrale Saint-Lazare

There had been a cathedral here earlier, that was just too small, when Autun became a center of pilgrimage, after relics of St. Lazarus were kept here since about 970. Just like Vezelay, only 90kms north, where the relics of St. Lazarus´ sister St. Maria Magdalena were kept at that time. So in 1120 it was decided to construct this larger and more suitable cathedral. At that time this construction was influenced by Cluny III, that was a little older. After severe damage during the Hundred Years' War, rebuilding and remodeling the romanesque structure started.The central nave never changed - and the many carved capitals.

Some of this works were taken down, during the renovation by Viollet-le-Duc and are now shown in the "Salle Capitulaire", where it is interesting to see the carvings at eye level.

This masterly carved capital depicts Samson wrestling a lion.
Here he is just opening the lion´s mouth, before he is going to rip the lion apart.

Book of Judges 14:6
"And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done."

Surprisingly Samson seems to be an elderly, well dressed man. Note the carving of Samsons dress and the nice mane of the lion. Not connected to the Book of Judges, but an interesting and exotic extension is in the left upper corner. A monkey is picking fruits from the branches.