Description
The tympanum of the south portal between the narthex and the nave contains scenes from the Infancy of Jesus . There are two registers- at the right of the lower register are the Visitation, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, and the Nativity
The Visitation (Luke I, 39-55) is shown as Mary and Elizabeth, both with halos, standing and facing one another. It is difficult to distinguish between them. The drapery of the skirt of the figure at right is agitated (suggesting motion? Perhaps John "leaping in his mother's womb"?).
The Annunciation to the Shepherds (Luke II, 8-14) is in the center of this picture. Three shepherds at the center of this look towards the upper right, where two angels appear in the clouds.
Three shepherds wearing short garments The two shepherds in front each have one of their arms raised to touch their chests (a gesture of fear? Of astonishment?) Their faces are damaged. At their feet are several of their animals. Though they have been damaged, the animal in front has cloven hoofs and is probably a cow or a sheep.
To the upper right are cloud forms in which a star and the upper bodies of two angels are visible. The angels have halos and feathered wings which are outstretched. The one to the left is looking at the shepherds- one of its arms is outstretched. The other arm is broken off but might be pointing to the Nativity scene. The other angel looks toward the star, which appears in the extreme right of the cloud.
The Nativity (Luke II,6-7) appears in the extreme right of the register below the angels of the Annunciation to the Shepherds. The scene is shown within a domed structure which may be the cave in which the Nativity occurred according to the pseudo gospels of James and of Matthew. The Nativity is generally pictured in a cave in the Byzantine artistic tradition (Its shape is reminiscent of the Inn at Emmaus on the lower register of the North portal). The Virgin lies in the foreground- hers is the largest figure in the scene. She has a halo and is wearing a long garment- her head is covered with a cloth (a veil?) The Christ Child is above her to the left dressed in swaddling clothes and lying on a patterned object (a manger?). The Child has a halo with a cross in it. Above Him are the heads of the ox and the ass that are very often depicted Nativity scenes. This is a reference to the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah,: "The ox knows his owner and the ass his maker's crib." (Isaiah I 3)
To the right of the Christ Child is a female figure- this may be the midwife mentioned in the Pseudo Gospel of James. To her right is the bearded figure of Joseph, who raises his hand to his face. Neither the female figure nor Joseph have halos.
Other search terms: New Testament, Gospel.
