OTRANTO CATHEDRAL MOSAICS
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES AND ZODIAC SIGNS
IN THE DEEP SOUTH OF ITALY
LINK TO OTHER PHOTOS FROM INSIDE THE CATTEDRALE
The monthly activity mosaic roundels date from the 1160s. Partly because they are so big, they are the most detailed and interesting of the many versions of this theme that we have seen in Europe.
Links to all Paradoxplace pages about medieval illustrations of Labours of the Month, Zodiac Signs,
Cardinal Virtues and Sins in Western European churches.
May - The joy of Spring
Taurus - the Bull
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The Otranto Monthly Activity / Zodiac Links The first month, January, is linked to Capricorn the sea goat, rather than the more usual Aquarius the water carrier.
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January Hand warming Capricorn - the Sea Goat |
February Spit roasting Aquarius - the Water Carrier |
March Foot cleaning Pisces - the Fishes |
April Taking sheep to pasture Aries - the Ram |
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May The joy of Spring Taurus - the Bull |
June Reaping and stacking Gemini - the Twins |
July Threshing Cancer - the Crab |
August Grape harvest Leo - the Lion |
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September Pressing grapes Virgo - the Virgin |
October Ploughing Libra - the Scales (le balance) |
November Cutting wood (with packed lunch) Scorpio - the Scorpion |
December Cinghiale killing time Sagittarius - the Archer |
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LINKS TO LOTS OF OTHER ZODIAC / LABOURS CYCLES IN CHURCHES OF ITALY, FRANCE, ENGLAND AND SPAIN
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At the moment (early 2008) there don't seem to be any copies of the 1990 / 2005 edition of this magnificent hard cover art book available at Amazon, but we have seen second hand copies being offered on the web.
One option would be to contact the Cattedrale bookstall (where we bought our copy in 2006 for about €80) directly (in Italian!):
Piazza Basilica, 1, Otranto, Lecce 73028 - Italy
Phone: +39 (0)836 802720
This very compressed version of an illustration from the above book shows the layout of the monthly activity / Zodiac roundels, which are just to the west (underneath) of the crossing and span the entire width of the nave. January is top left, then read as you would script to December in the bottom right hand corner.
The book contains full page photos of each of the roundels and equivalent detail of all the other mosaics.
September - Pressing grapes
Virgo - the Virgin
A dimensionally larger (but much slimmer and much cheaper - €10) soft cover alternative (2001) is shown below. The cover also shows the monthly roundels, this time starting from January in the bottom left and going clockwise. The book has a good selection of detailed photos printed on good quality paper, and includes German and English translations of the (fairly brief) text. We bought this book in Lecce - Congedo Editore is based in Galatina.
Interestingly, the last four months of the year are spelled with a "-ber" rather than "-bre" - something we have noticed elsewhere in Italy as well.
January - hand warming by the fire
Capricorn - the Sea Goat
February - spit roasting a pig
Aquarius - the Water Carrier
(postcard)
July - threshing
Cancer - the Crab
(postcard)
For other Paradoxplace links visit the home page
All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-2013 - The contents may not be hotlinked, or reproduced without permission.