Psychostasia / The Weighing of Souls

When the church, dedicated to Saint Amans de Rodez, got erected within the 12th century, it was dependent from the abbey Saint-Martin in Tulle (20kms north). It is known, that Humbaud, bishop of Limoges, consecrated a church here in 1094, but at that time the structure cannot have been completed The portal of Saint-Chamant is extraordenary (for a village church). While the tympanum over the doors is undamaged, all capitals are damaged. After the French Revolution some small vandals used their hammers. Not much is left from archangel Michael, who holds the scale at this 'weighing of souls'. The devil on the right is still complete, his mouth is wide open..

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The western facade was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. This is the tympanum of the center-portal, the largest and most ornate and sophisticated one. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme already on Romanesque churches (eg Conques, Autun, Moissac, Sangüesa) is seen on the tympanum in a delicate Gothic style. Seen here are three levels. At the bottom souls arise from the open the graves. They all look young and healthy. Above Archangel Michael holds a scale. This is a Psychostasia, the "Weighing of the Souls". While the souls left of Saint Michael are escorted by angels, the souls to the right are tortured by devils. Above all Christ enthroned and flanked by angels. There are a lot of astonishing (and explicit!) details to be seen on the "Highway to Hell" (AC/DC), so I will upload some of them next. Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site".

Late afternoon sun in Bourges. The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. The western facade was finished by 1270. It is very wide (42m), as the four side aisles and central nave each have their own portal. This is the tympanum of the center-portal, the largest and most ornate and sophisticated one. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme already on Romanesque churches (eg Conques, Autun, Moissac, Sangüesa) is seen on the tympanum in a delicate Gothic style. Here is the center of the middle level. Archangel Michael holds a scale doing the "Weighing of the Souls". He holds his arm around the small (innocent) soul on is side, while the grim looking, bearded, hook-nosed devil is waiting eagerly.. The souls on the left, entering heaven, have a faint smile on their faces, a smile I saw in Reims (and Bamberg) as well. Since 1992 the cathedral is a "UNESCO World Heritage Site".

The "Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges" was erected as a replacement for a 11th-century structure. The construction started probably in the last quarter of the 12th century, around the same time, when the builders and bricklayers started in Chartres. The choir of the cathedral was in use by 1214, the nave was finished 1255. The cathedral was consecrated in 1324. With the completion of the choir of the cathedral , the first stained glass windows got installed. Most of the windows around the choir, created 1220/1230, survived the times. The wonderful "vitraux" here may even be a bit older than the more famous ones in Chartres. Here is the Last Judgement. The "Weighing of Souls" (Psychostasia) in the top part. In the center the the souls to the right are saved and move to Abraham, who holds the souls in a napkin on his bosom. Those souls to the right end in a hellmouth.

The construction of the cathedral was ordered by King Ferdinand III of Castile and Mauricio, the Bishop of Burgos. Ferdinand had just married Barbarossa´s granddaughter Beatrice of Swabia (aka "Elisabeth of Swabia") and wanted a cathedral, reflecting his new role in the European power game. The former Romanesque cathedral got demolished and on July 20, 1221, the construction of the new Gothic started under the guidance of an unknown French architect. After nine years, the chevet was completed and the high altar was consecrated. Then the construction stopped for about 200 years. Attending the Council of Basel (aka "Council of Florence") in 1435 bishop (and diplomat) Alfonso de Cartagena saw the just completed, elegant towers of the Basel Minster. When he returned to Burgos he was accompanied by German architect Johannes von Köln (aka "Juan de Colonia"), who probably knew the blueprints of the towers, planned for the Cathedral of Cologne. Under his guidance the towers of the Cathedral were completed in open tracery. He was followed on the construction site by his son Simon de Colonia. The crossing tower collapsed in 1539, but got rebuilt, so that in 1567 the Cathedral was finally completed. Seen here is the north transept portal, known as "Portada de la Coroneria", erected around 1240 and permanently locked since 1830. Over the centuries residents had entered the cathedral here and by using the opposite portal as an exit, had a nice short cut to the market. Flanking the doors are the 12 apostles. The Last Judgement is on the tympanum above. Christ seated on a throne between the Virgin and John the Evangelist, angels display the Instruments of the Passion (aka "Arma Christi"). Below is a psychostasia. Archangel Michael weighs the souls. Following the information given here Ferdinand III and Beatriz can be found on the left, on their way to Paradise. The road to hell (paved with good intentions) runs to the right. www.catedraldeburgos.es/

The construction of the cathedral was ordered by King Ferdinand III of Castile and Mauricio, the Bishop of Burgos. Ferdinand had just married Barbarossa´s granddaughter Beatrice of Swabia (aka "Elisabeth of Swabia") and wanted a cathedral, reflecting his new role in the European power game. The former Romanesque cathedral got demolished and on July 20, 1221, the construction of the new Gothic started under the guidance of an unknown French architect. After nine years, the chevet was completed and the high altar was consecrated. Then the construction stopped for about 200 years. Attending the Council of Basel (aka "Council of Florence") in 1435 bishop (and diplomat) Alfonso de Cartagena saw the just completed, elegant towers of the Basel Minster. When he returned to Burgos he was accompanied by German architect Johannes von Köln (aka "Juan de Colonia"), who probably knew the blueprints of the towers, planned for the Cathedral of Cologne. Under his guidance the towers of the Cathedral were completed in open tracery. He was followed on the construction site by his son Simon de Colonia. The crossing tower collapsed in 1539, but got rebuilt, so that in 1567 the Cathedral was finally completed. The north transept portal, known as "Portada de la Coroneria", erected around 1240, is permanently locked since 1830. Over the centuries residents had entered the cathedral here and by using the opposite portal as an exit, had a nice short cut to the market. In the center of the tympanum is the Last Judgement (see previous upload). Here is a detail of the psychostasia. On the left stands Archangel Michael weighing the souls. To the right runs the road to hell, where devils are at work. A miser still has a large money bag around his neck. www.catedraldeburgos.es/

Many pilgrims following the Via Lemovicensis visited Bazas, as since medieval times as the blood of John the Baptist was venerated here. The relic got lost during the French Revolution as well as the bishopric seat. The cathedral, dating mainly from the 13th-14th centuries, dominates the central square of Bazas. The western facade has three Gothic portals. Here is the tympanum of the center portal. The trumeau depicts John the Baptist (only his upper body can be seen), holding the "Agnus Dei". The trumeau depicts John the Baptist (only his upper body can be seen), holding the "Agnus Dei". The tympanum has in the lowest tier some biblical scenes, connected to John´s life. The decapitation is to the very left. The "Last Judgment", a popular theme With the next tier the Armageddon begins. The "Last Judgment" was a very popular theme fpr tymoana since centuries. Here the graves open. The weighing of the souls is seen (very damaged) in the center of the next level. On the very right devils stuff poor souls into the hellmouth, while the persons on the left side go up to heaven. The angels, flanking Christ in the center above, hold the "Arma Christi" ("Instruments of the Passion").

There have been five cathedrals on this site. One was destroyed by Visigothic troops mid of the 8th century. The successive cathedral was burnt down by Vikings ("Danes") in 858. The carolingian structure that was erected within the next decades was burnt down in 962 by troops led by Richard I of Normandy (aka "Richard the Fearless", "Richard Sans-Peur"). The rebuilding started again, but whatever was completed got destroyed by a fire, caused accidently, in 1020. The erection of a Romanesque cathedral started and most of the still existing crypt dates back to that building. In 1134, another fire damaged the town and large parts of the cathedral. The towers got repaired and rebuilt and the portal between them got created. Another blaze hit the town in June 1194. The cathedral was burnt down. Construction works started the same year. The western towers and the undamaged western portal ("Portail Royal") got integrated into the new building. The nave was already vaulted in 1220, the transept and the stained windows were completed in 1260. On 24 October 1260, only 66 years after the start of construction, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame was consecrated in the presence of Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme"). Since Charles the Bald, Louis the Pious´ son, had given the "Sancta Camisia" to the cathedral in 876. Because of this "Veil of the Virgin" Chartres developed into a very important Marian pilgrimage center in medieval times. The south transept portals were carved between 1225 and 1260, so these works are some decades younger than the northern portals and about a century younger than the Portail Royal. While the carvings there are still in a transition from Romanesque to Gothic style, the works of the South portal are Gothic - just like the portal of the Bourges Cathedral, often compared with this. The portal was carved on the theme of the New Testament. Here is the tympanum. In the center of the lintel below, Archangel Michael holds a scale (that is lost). The psychostasia (weighing of souls) is done here. The way to heaven is left, the way to hell to the right. The hellmouth is seen in the corner.

The Sainte-Chapelle ("Holy Chapel") was part of the Palais de la Cité, residence of the French Royals between 10th and 14th century. The chapel was built, to house Louis IX's vast collection of relics, including the Crown of Thorns, the Image of Edessa and the point of the "Holy Lance" - and many more prominent relics. Saint Louis (aka Louis IX) had purchased the "Passion Relics" from Baldwin II, unfortunate emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, for 135,000 livres. The money was actually paid to the Venetians, to whom the relics had been pawned. Begun around 1239 and consecrated in 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered among the highest achievements of the Gothic architecture. A fire damaged the chapel 1630, that got restored after that. The chapel suffered its most grievous destruction during the French Revolution, when the steeple got removed and many of the precious reliquaries were melted down. Later the revolutionists tried to sell the ruined building. It was even discussed to knock it down. Reconstruction and restoration was done in the 1840s/1850s. The chapel has two floors, both have a portal. Seen here is the larger one. "The Last Judgement" is a "traditional" theme for 1240. The graves open, a psychostasia in the center between them. The hell is to the right, the heaven to the left. Christ, seated on a throne, flanked by two angels, who held the Crown of Thorns, the "Holy Lance" and the "True Cross". sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/