Nice video, Thanks. :) Hmm … I wonder what was once engraved (now eroded) on the shield below the ball? The triangular shape of the stones above the door and encompassing the boule-aux-rats represents the G-d's universe and sovereignty over mankind. Also, in the foliate relief sculptures, there appear to be the faces of saints or archangels … I couldn't see them very well; demons and representations of evil or former pagan deities (i.e. "demons") also can be found in foliate reliefs (e.g. the Green Man) I know that the figure at the door is Saint Siffredus a seventh century bishop, who lived at Lérins Abbey, and was known for his many exorcisms. Perhaps, the rats coming out of the ball represent demons being exorcised? EDIT: Doesn't the south door of the church face the Jewish neighborhood?
Offensive statues all over evil europe about us... I wouldn't spend a dollar in Europe.I would go see Prague CZ Golem though. Nice lecture Dr Abramson. Shalom
I tend to think that this strange ball of rats does not have anything to do with the so-called Jewish door and the connection is pure coincidence. But there could well be some esoteric symbolism perhaps alchemical (if you can't understand something you can always fall back on alchemy which nobody understands). There are nine balls of rats carved on or in churches in France mainly in the Paris area so it is not a unique motif and the Gothic cathedral builders probably had a repertoire of symbols. An early seventeenth century emblem book interprets said ball as showing the rats eating through the world i.e. the corruption of the earth by noxious influences I suppose. Having the cross at the bottom of the ball may emphasise some sort of inversion of the heavenly order as the comment below indicates. Or maybe the archbishop at the time the cathedral was built just liked the idea of a carving of a ball of rats as a design feature he'd seen on another church, so the mason obliged for a few gold coins.
Nice video, Thanks. :)
Hmm …
I wonder what was once engraved (now eroded) on the shield below the ball?
The triangular shape of the stones above the door and encompassing the
boule-aux-rats represents the G-d's universe and sovereignty over mankind.
Also, in the foliate relief sculptures, there appear to be the faces of saints
or archangels … I couldn't see them very well; demons and representations
of evil or former pagan deities (i.e. "demons") also can be found in foliate
reliefs (e.g. the Green Man)
I know that the figure at the door is Saint Siffredus a seventh century bishop,
who lived at Lérins Abbey, and was known for his many exorcisms. Perhaps,
the rats coming out of the ball represent demons being exorcised?
EDIT: Doesn't the south door of the church face the Jewish neighborhood?
Offensive statues all over evil europe about us...
I wouldn't spend a dollar in Europe.I would go see Prague CZ Golem though.
Nice lecture Dr Abramson.
Shalom
Shalom Aleichem. Peace be upon you.
Henry Abramson.
I tend to think that this strange ball of rats does not have anything to do with the so-called Jewish door and the connection is pure coincidence. But there could well be some esoteric symbolism perhaps alchemical (if you can't understand something you can always fall back on alchemy which nobody understands). There are nine balls of rats carved on or in churches in France mainly in the Paris area so it is not a unique motif and the Gothic cathedral builders probably had a repertoire of symbols. An early seventeenth century emblem book interprets said ball as showing the rats eating through the world i.e. the corruption of the earth by noxious influences I suppose. Having the cross at the bottom of the ball may emphasise some sort of inversion of the heavenly order as the comment below indicates. Or maybe the archbishop at the time the cathedral was built just liked the idea of a carving of a ball of rats as a design feature he'd seen on another church, so the mason obliged for a few gold coins.