Description
The tympanum of the south portal between the narthex and the nave contains scenes from the Infancy of Jesus. There are two registers- the leftmost two scenes on the lower register are the Annunciation to the Virgin and a scene of a building or a town.
Annunciation to the Virgin (Luke I, 26-38). The angel Gabriel (left) faces Virgin Marty (right), telling that she will bare the Son of God. The angel has a halo, and is standing with its feathered wings outstretched. He is wearing a long garment with a flaring at the hem (suggesting motion?) He gestures toward Mary with both hands, Mary is also standing- she has a halo and a long garment with a cloth (veil covering her head) she also has a long outer garment. Her left hand hangs down, while her right is gesturing- palm outwards- toward the angel (in awe? Disbelief?) To Mary’s upper right is a cloud form- Salet says that the dove of the Holy Spirit is descending form it.
Between the Annunciation to the Virgin and the Visitation is a scene that is not easily identifable. It shwos a town or building with two figures visible in its windows. To the right of this structure is a tall tower with a crenulated (?) top and three windows with rounded tops in the upper stories. Below is a rounded shape with fittings that suggests a door or gate. To the left of this tower is a lower structure with bottom area with a masonry pattern in front of which are foliage shapes. Above this is and area with two arched openings with the which are supported by columns. Visible within are two figures which are looking toward the Visitation. Above is a tiled roof.
Salet suggests that this might represent Zachariah at Hebron (Luke I, 5-25). It might also be an allusion to the monastery at Vézelay or to some other local event.
Other search terms: New Testament, Gospel.
