Cathedrals 2a:
Dax portal,
photos and notes

mediæval porch at Dax cathedral.
The subject is the judgement day, although Jesus, the judge, is missing.
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[1]

Apostles to the left of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[2]

Apostles to the right of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[3]

how many apostles?

Although traditionally there are twelve Apostles, they are chosen from a pool of sixteen, listed below. Each man has one or more symbols, which can vary, to enable their recognition. For those that were martyred (killed), one of the symbols will be the method of killing:

• Bartholomew: large knife, processional cross, human skin (he was flayed alive).
• John the evangelist [gospel writer]: youngest apostle so shaven, book (sometimes open), chalice with a dragon or serpent.
• (Simon) Peter: key(s) to heaven, triple cross, fish.
• James the Greater: pilgrim’s staff, scallop shell/s, large pilgrim’s hat, book, scroll, sword.
  St James was banished to the (then) furthest point from Rome: Compostella on the tip of Spain, since then a popular christianist pilgrimage destination.
• James the Lesser: book, fuller’s club.
• Jude Thaddeus: medallion with profile of Jesus, boat, anchor, pen, book, axe.
• Matthew: winged man, pen, inkwell, bag of coins, money box, purse, spear, sword, halberd, lance.
• Philip: elderly man, basket of loaves, T-shaped cross.
• Simon Zealot: large saw, oar, two fish, lance.
• Thomas: builder’s T-square, spear.
• Judas Iscariot: noose.

Some of these apostles may be exchanged for:

• Mark the evangelist: book, winged lion.
• Luke the Evangelist: book.
• Mathias: lance. (Mathias was chosen by the other apostles after Judas betrayed Jesus.)
• Paul: cross-hilted sword.

The exchanges are:

• Judas may be replaced by Mathias
• Simon or may be replaced by Luke or Mark
• Mathias may be replaced by Luke or Mark
• Jude Thaddeus may be replaced by Paul.

some detailed notes on the portal at dax

Below is provided full details on the statuary in the photographs. Note that the statue positions within the archway are oriented as if facing outwards. Thus the ‘good guys’ (resurrected) are on the right (of Jesus/god) and the ‘bad guys’ (devils, cursed) are on the left. [The Apostle statues are not part of this classification.]

1. Arch: virgins, saints and characters from the Old Testament
   Within the arch, from top to bottom
   • top row: two angels
   • second row: space where Jesus statue is missing, flanked by two kneeling angels
   • third row: Jesus’ mother, Mary; angel; St Michael [unrestored] weighing the souls of the faithful. To our right, a devil tries to upturn the scales; angel; St John. All the characters, except St Michael are imploring Jesus’ mercy.
   • bottom row: Resurrection of the dead.
   To the viewer’s left is the resurrection of the Elect: “Come ye, blessed of my father”. These leave their sepulchres with no difficulty and happily walk away to paradise.
   To the viewer’s right is the resurrection of the Cursed: “Depart thee from me, ye Cursed”. These struggle to remove the tombstones, and are taken to hell by grinning devils. The faces of the cursed grimace with pain and fear.
   In the centre, between the doors, is Jesus giving blessings with his right hand [damaged], and holding the Book of Doctrines in his left hand. One either side are statues of the twelve apostles.
   
   
2. Statues of Apostles to right of Jesus [to the viewer’s left]
• Peter: holding a key in his right hand, the book of Judgement in his left.
• Andrew: holding part of a saltaire cross [saltaire: diagonally oriented]
• both hands missing
• facing away from Jesus, holding an open book - possibly Judas Iscariot
• left hand: a book, right hand: a staff - possibly James the lesser, or Luke
  
  
3. Statues of Apostles to left of Jesus [to the viewer’s right]
   • balding man, holding hammer (?) in right hand, open book in left hand - possibly Philip
   • James the Greater: right hand lost (probably holding a staff), left hand holding a book, bag decorated with scallop shells
   • John the Evangelist: youngest apostle (no beard), holding book decorated with a bird [probably an eagle] and four stars (?)
   • right hand: staff, left hand: book, with cloak draped over hand and arm - possibly Matthew
   • right hand missing, left hand as if holding/supporting something
   • Thomas: holding builder’s T-rule

cathedrals – introduction: reading stained glass
gothic cathedral and church construction
cathedrals, an illustrated glossary
Chartres - wonder of the world
Notre Dame de Paris, Paris
lantern towers of Normandy and elsewhere
history of ugly stained glass: Auch, Bazas, Dreux
Auch cathedral choir and stalls
Rouen and Monet
Dax and church iconography photographs, Dax
Bazas - iconography and architectural styles
Poitiers, neglected masterpiece photographs, Poitiers / photos 2
Angers, heart of the Angevin Empire photographs, Angers
Laon, the midst of the gothic transition, with added oxen photographs, Laon
Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
Notre Dame of Lausanne
Senlis - how a typical cathedral changes through the ages
Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges - the cathedral of the Pyrenees
Cathedrale Saint-Gatien at Tours

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