S� de Lisboa - Page 2
Up - Another early 14th century-tomb in Lisbon Cathedral is that of an unidentified Portuguese princess. Her royalty is indicated by the presence of the Portuguese coat-of-arms on the sides of the tomb. She appears dressed in mediaeval fashion and is reading a Book-of-Hours: a mediaeval prayer book. A small dog sits beside her feet, guarding the tomb.
Up - Views of the cloisters of Lisbon Cathedral. The Gothic cloisters were built during the reign of King Dinis I, between the end of the 13th and begining of the 14th centuries, being one of the oldest in Portugal. The 1755 earthquake and the fire that ensued strongly affected this part of the building, and the cloisters are now partially in ruins. An archaeological excavation in the central courtyard has revealed Roman, Moorish and mediaeval remains. The most striking feature of the arched galleries are the openings with Moorish-influenced tracery motifs, each of them unique.
Left - Most of the capitals in the cloisters have vegetal motifs, but this one shows two birds drinking from a cup. The motif, which is present in Portuguese churches since Romanesque times, symbolises redemption - the birds are drinking from the cup of life: the Christ. Another variant of this theme, seen for instance in the Romanesque North portal of Lisbon Cathedral, shows a pair of birds eating grapes hanging from a branch.
Romanesque
Gothic

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