. MEDIEVAL EUROPE .
After the Fall of Rome
As the barbarians rampaged over Europe, Christians clung to outposts like this, off the coast of Ireland
Here are their huts, look for the cross in white on the left one
By the 800's stone buildings were being made again, like this at Iona in Scotland
Descent into the dark ages after the fall of Rome. The Baptistry of Poitiers in France is a crude construction but
comes from a time when, for 300 years, you could count the number of stone buildings built in Europe on one hand (600's)
METALWORKS AND BOOKS
Dark Age people prized gold and other precious metals and things because they had no other stable thing in life
The most precious things were books. The cover of this one is studded with jewels
Books done in the most fancy way were called 'Illuminated Manuscripts.'
Illuminated because it seemed light was coming from them, and manuscripts because they were all one of a kind
The books of the middle ages were much more detailed in their decoration than any in history
Over 1000 years old, the Cross of Lothar is one of the most beautiful objects from the distant past.
the front (left) is studded with jewels and the back has a stenciling of the Crucifixion, it is priceless.
Relics were kept in safe containers decorated with holy images like this one
Medieval artists even decorated chalices like this with holy scenes, can you see it?
A knights standard gear
Here is a helmet used in England a thosand years ago
A real medieval sword, obviously well used, that would go with the helmet
SCULPTURE ON BUILDINGS
This frieze portrays Jesus and Mary fleeing to Egypt on a horse
This one shows Eve, in her hand is the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
By the time of the gothic cathedrals in the 1100's, sculptures on them became more grand
The amazing art of stained glass windows like this took years to execute by master artists, but we
usually don't even know their names! (to do something like this 'to be famous' was not the point)
Here is Christ on the Cross in stained glass
Entire walls of the cathedrals were murals like this one
Site Design: David Tamm
