Thiviers - Notre-Dame de l'Assomption

The city of Thiviers has been conquered, ruined and looted a couple of times. At the end of the 12th century it was English, taken by Richard Lionheart, later it was French again. Lionheart´s brother John Lackland conquered Thiviers in 1211, but only a year later, it was reconquered by French troops. 1374 - 1376 it was English again, before finally Charles VI. (aka "le Bien-Aimé", "le Fou") took over.

In 1575, during the Wars of Religion, Thiviers was conquered by Calvinists, who ruined the church and massacred the Catholic population.

So Notre-Dame de l'Assomption is the result of many rebuilding and reconstruction periods. The last one was completed within the 19th century. Only the transept and some capitals date back to the 12th century.

Here is one of the capitals.

Are the lions (and the puppet-like riders) beiong devoured by the large heads on the corners? Or do the lions share these heads? Or... what about the body below the lions in the center. What do the puppets hold in their hands. Why is the left rider so much larger, but sits wrong around on the lion? Or...