Medieval Mermaids

A thousand years ago, Toulouges was an important village in the diocese of Elne. By now Toulouges is just another western suburb of Perpignan. The "Église de l'Assomption de la Vierge" in Toulouges has an extraordenary southern portal, that is even more elaborate that one in Brouilla (see previous uploads). The left side of the portal is very weathered and partly lost. The tympanum is weathered as well and may depict St. Michael fighting the dragon. The right side is still pretty complete. One of the two capitals (see previous upload) depicts a group centered around a beard pulling merman. Two mermaids flank the merman, while two bearded humans (?) peep over the fins. Though the carving style is comparably rough, all faces are very individual.

A thousand years ago, Toulouges was an important village in the diocese of Elne. By now Toulouges is just another western suburb of Perpignan. The "Église de l'Assomption de la Vierge" in Toulouges has an extraordenary southern portal, that is even more elaborate that one in Brouilla (see previous uploads). The left side of the portal is very weathered and partly lost. The tympanum is weathered as well and may depict St. Michael fighting the dragon. The right side is still pretty complete. These are the two capitals of the right side. To the left a mermaid and a bearded merman, to the right a pride of lions with plaited moustaches, similar to creatures in Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa. One of the lions is bent into the typical posture for the lions in the Roussillon. The carving style is much rougher compared to Cuxa and Serrabone. I was fascinated by the bearded merman - so next is a portrait of him.

Some Abbot Sentimir started to build an abbey here end of the 8th century. The abbey got looted and damaged by "heathens" (Marcel Durliat suspects Normans). From 981 on it was rebuilt by order of King Lothair of France, son of Louis IV of France (aka "Transmarinus"). The abbey slipped under the protection of the Counts of Roussillon and later of the Kings of Aragon. The church was enlarged and re-consecrated in 1153. Since 1088 the abbey was connected to Cluny in Burgundy. The facade of the fromer abbey church has a white marble lintel over doors of the former abbey church depicting a theophany. For Doyen Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussilion roman", this relief marks the begin of Romanesque sculpturing within the Roussilion. Thanks to an inscription on that lintel (see previous uploads) it is known, that it was carved in 1019. The Benedictian abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks had to leave. The abbey church serves as a parish church "Saint Michel" since 1846. Of course, the abbey had a cloister. It was built on the foundation of an older one - and was completed in 1271. This cloister was sold after the French Revolution to new owners, who had built there homes (and stables) into the structure. Early 20th century some sly business men roamed the area looking for treasures. So - the polygonal fountain of the cloister was sold in 1913. Meanwhile the fountain can be admired in "The Cloisters" in New York. In 1924 some Paul Gouvert bought most of the cloister. Only one of the owners resisted. He had integrated the arcades into his living room. Mr. Gouvert must have had David Copperfield´s talents, as after a short while he gave two arcades (for free!) to the Louvre in Paris, sold one cloister to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and another one to the owner of a Renaissance chateau in Northern France. In 1982 the owner of the chateau sold the cloister back. It got dismantled and brought back, where it joined the arcades from the Louvre two years later. The arcades in Philadelphia now got copied and in 1986 two side were completed. Only the owner of the southern corner still resisted to cooperate. Finally in 1994 the restauration was completed and since then it is open to the public. I learned that by now only the former chapter-house of the abbey is still a private living room. The artistic style of the capitals is very rough (for mid 13th century), - the stories, symbols, icons are mystic. Obviously the many workshops having existed in the area (Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Espira-de-l'Agly, Elne, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Prieuré de Serrabone) a century ago, had given up business or moved on. Just like in nearby Elne (10kms) here are many mermaids. The maids seen here are way clumsier than their slender relatives in Elne. But just like them, they have attracted vandals. The relationship between mermaids and vandals is not yet fully researched. Didn´t Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, say anything about that? This one was pretty lucky, as only the nose got lost. It paid, to wear a protective helmet!

Some Abbot Sentimir started to build an abbey here end of the 8th century. The abbey got looted and damaged by "heathens" (Marcel Durliat suspects Normans). From 981 on it was rebuilt by order of King Lothair of France, son of Louis IV of France (aka "Transmarinus"). The abbey slipped under the protection of the Counts of Roussillon and later of the Kings of Aragon. The church was enlarged and re-consecrated in 1153. Since 1088 the abbey was connected to Cluny in Burgundy. The facade of the fromer abbey church has a white marble lintel over doors of the former abbey church depicting a theophany. For Doyen Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussilion roman", this relief marks the begin of Romanesque sculpturing within the Roussilion. Thanks to an inscription on that lintel (see previous uploads) it is known, that it was carved in 1019. The Benedictian abbey existed upto the French Revolution, when the monks had to leave. The abbey church serves as a parish church "Saint Michel" since 1846. Of course, the abbey had a cloister. It was built on the foundation of an older one - and was completed in 1271. This cloister was sold after the French Revolution to new owners, who had built there homes (and stables) into the structure. Early 20th century some sly business men roamed the area looking for treasures. So - the polygonal fountain of the cloister was sold in 1913. Meanwhile the fountain can be admired in "The Cloisters" in New York. In 1924 some Paul Gouvert bought most of the cloister. Only one of the owners resisted. He had integrated the arcades into his living room. Mr. Gouvert must have had David Copperfield´s talents, as after a short while he gave two arcades (for free!) to the Louvre in Paris, sold one cloister to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and another one to the owner of a Renaissance chateau in Northern France. In 1982 the owner of the chateau sold the cloister back. It got dismantled and brought back, where it joined the arcades from the Louvre two years later. The arcades in Philadelphia now got copied and in 1986 two side were completed. Only the owner of the southern corner still resisted to cooperate. Finally in 1994 the restauration was completed and since then it is open to the public. I learned that by now only the former chapter-house of the abbey is still a private living room. The artistic style of the capitals is very rough (for mid 13th century), - the stories, symbols, icons are mystic. Obviously the many workshops having existed in the area (Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Espira-de-l'Agly, Elne, Villefranche-de-Conflent, Prieuré de Serrabone) a century ago, had given up business or moved on. Just like in nearby Elne (10kms) rhere are many mermaids in Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines. The maids seen here are way clumsier than their slender relatives in Elne. But just like them, they have attracted vandals. The relationship between mermaids and vandals is not yet fully researched. Didn´t Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, say anything about that? This mermaid, flanked by pine cones and birds (or sirens), lost the face.

Saint-Ursanne is named after Ursicinus, an iro-scottish disciple of famous St. Kolumban, the missionary of Bavaria. Ursinicus lived as a hermit here in the valley of the Doubs. After Ursinicus´ death, St. Wandrille (aka Wandregisel) founded a convent at his tomb. This was recorded first time in 849 as "..cella in honorem Sancti Ursicini.." The convent probably merged in a newly founded Benedictian abbey within the 11th century, that a century later was converted to a collegiate of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. The collegiate church was erected 1200/1400 and integrates some parts of the former abbey church. The structure got severely damaged by the Basel earthquake of 1356. The tower collapsed. It took about a century to repair the ruined church. The collegiate got secularised in 1803, when the village belonged to France. Since the Congress of Vienna the area is part of Canton of Bern - and the former collegiate church now is the parish church of the town. The southern portal, erected around 1200, is clearly inspired by the iconography of Basel Cathedral´s Gallus Pforte (60kms) and the portal of the Nikolaus-chapel inside the Freiburg Muenster (120kms). A breastfeeding mermaid with legs and tails. She is flanked by two maids, a fish is whispering into her ear. A mermaid like this is pretty rare, but she has a lookalike in Freiburg.

Saint-Ursanne is named after Ursicinus, an iro-scottish disciple of famous St. Kolumban, the missionary of Bavaria. Ursinicus lived as a hermit here in the valley of the Doubs. After Ursinicus´ death, St. Wandrille (aka Wandregisel) founded a convent at his tomb. This was recorded first time in 849 as "..cella in honorem Sancti Ursicini.." The convent probably merged in a newly founded Benedictian abbey within the 11th century, that a century later was converted to a collegiate of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. The collegiate church was erected 1200/1400 and integrates some parts of the former abbey church. The structure got severely damaged by the Basel earthquake of 1356. The tower collapsed. It took about a century to repair the ruined church. The collegiate got secularised in 1803, when the village belonged to France. Since the Congress of Vienna the area is part of Canton of Bern - and the former collegiate church now is the parish church of the town. The southern portal, erected around 1200, is clearly inspired by the iconography of Basel Cathedral´s Gallus Pforte (60kms) and the portal of the Nikolaus-chapel inside the Freiburg Muenster (120kms). I had seen a photo of these three capitals on the right side of the portal. These capitals let me do the detour to Switzerland. To the left eagles, not very unique. In the center a breastfeeding mermaid (with legs!). She is flanked by two maids, a fish is whispering into her ear. To the right a "wolf´s school", where a monk teaches an uninterested wolf to read. These two icons are very rare - and have parallels in Basel and Freiburg. I will upload a close up of the mernmaid next.

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very succesful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding, so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of th 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure. The construction of the ground floor started 1180 and it took to the the early 15th century to complete it. The second floor dates to the 15th and 16th century. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture. Two row boats on the sides of the capital escort this beautiful mermaid. She is holding a (broken) mirror in her hand, being a symbol of vanity.

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very succesful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding, so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of th 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure. The construction of the ground floor started 1180 and it took to the the early 15th century to complete it. The second floor dates to the 15th and 16th century. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture. A pretty mermaid and her handsome, bearded husband. The two tails of the couple meet on the other side of the capital.

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very succesful in the political power game of that time. The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library. The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy. The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style. The church got ruined the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished. The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding, so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of th 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure. The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure. The construction of the ground floor started 1180 and it took to the the early 15th century to complete it. The second floor dates to the 15th and 16th century. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture. These damaged romanesque capitals depict mermaids and monkeys. The monkeys seem to stand in water (waves).

The origin of Sant Pere de Rodes is not known. A local legend tells it was founded by monks, after they escaped the Barbarian invasion of Rome with the relics of Saint Peter within the 6th century. A first documentation of the place dates 878, when it was mentioned as a "cella", so at that time this may have been something like a hermitage. From 945 on it was an independent Benedictine abbey. During the 11th and 12th century, the abbey was a point of pilgrimage and was flourishing. Most buildings still seen date back to that time. The downturn started soon after. Finally in 1798 the abbey was given up by the Order of Saint Benedict. The buildings were in a very bad stage in within a few decades they were in ruins. A "National Monument" since 1930, and throughly renovated, it is meanwhile a main tourist attraction on the coast. Only a few carvings can be seen in Sant Pere de Rodes (aside from the copies of the works of Maitre de Cabestany), but even they might be "restaurated". The two capitals seen on the previous photos are very complex, compared to this mermaid, holding her two skinny tails.

An oratorium here is recorded already in 996. Count Guifred Cabreta, grandson of Wilfred the Hairy (a person I was interested in since ages. We will "meet" him later) donated land and funds for the erection of a monastery in atonement for the murder of his own son. The abbey was built around the older oratorium and already 1009 a church was consecrated and dedicated to Saint Martin by the Bishop of Elne, who was Count Guifred´s brother. In the document a monk named Sclua is mentioned as the builder. Sclua may have been, what was later called an architect. In 1012 the relics of Saint Gauderique were transferred to Saint-Martin, adding importance to the place. Following a medievial tradition (eg William of Gellone, Bernard II, Lord of Lippe) Count Guifried later left his wife, quit his worldy (sinful) life and entered the Benedictian convent here as a monk. He died at this monastery in 1049. Shortly after that the importance of the monastery dwindeled dramatically. An earthquake ruined the monastery in 1428. The rebuilding took decades. The small, remote convent was later threatend by food-shortage as well as by gangs of smugglers and raiders, who filled the frontier area with terror, the monastery was secularized. In 1781 the last five monks and the abbot left the buildings. The complex fell into disrepair and were used as a stone quarry by local home-builders. In 1902 the bishop of Elne and Perpignan bought the ruins and started a pretty radical restauration. Some buildings were even added, to accomodate visitors. In 1922 a number of capitals could be bought back, that had once belonged to the cloister and "got lost" after the French Revolution. Even if this is not "original" in many aspects, even if it may "lack some character", like some authors wrote, it is a wonderful complex, and as Marcel Durliat wrote, a church "premier art roman méridional", as it is older than most of the other romanesque buildings in Southern France. As sirens (seen on the previous upload) often team up with mermaids, it is no wonder, that mermaids are here. The damage here is even worse, compared to the siren-capital, but mermaids somehow trigger heavy vandalism.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed. This now ends the little mermaid/mermen series, as there is much more to be seen here.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. An atlant to the right, mermaids - and in the distant a pair of posing griffons. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed.

later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed.

Elne is a really old town. Herodotus mentioned the town of "Illiberis", later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069. During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering. Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition. There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number. Here - seen from the upper floor - is a merman (with undamaged face!) and a siren on the left.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. The mermaid seen from the back makes clear, that the lady is equipped with a fluke like a whale, what makes her special, as most mermaids have fins like fish.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. Compared to the many mermaids I have seen so far, this person is a merlady. Other than the (probably older) mermaid here (seen on a previous shot), the lady is not damaged, but only a little weathered, as she was carved from sandstone. She has nothing to do with "fish", what we will see on the next photo.

The cloister of Saint-Trophime forms a rectangle 28m x 25m. The eastern and northern sides were built in romanesque style 1160 - 1180. Shortly after that all constructions came to halt, due to an economic decline of Arles. New orders like the Trinitarians and the Knights Templar had settled in Arles - and caused competition. It took more than a century to restart the building process, so the southern and western sides were built erected during the 14th and 15th century in gothic style. All around the walls of the cloister are carvings, that are not connected to the bible, like this little mermaid. She is holding her tail in the left - and a fish in the right hand. Like most mermaids she has precisely parted long hair. It is noticeably, that the carvings of the cloister are much more damaged, than the carvings of the western facade. There must be a reason, that Luxurias and mermaids never get spared from vandalism.