Join Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free Trial Now


Register a SNAP EBT card with Amazon

Frieze over the door of the Church of San Benedetto, Brindisi, late 11th Century

A larger image of this frieze over the door of the Church of San Benedetto, Brindisi, Italy, late 11th Century.

Source: Pugliamuchmore, Brindisi
The church of S.Benedict was built in 1089. Hunters fight lions and a winged Hippocampus.

An overview of the Portal of the Church of San Benedetto, Brindisi, late 11th Century

---

Referenced as figure 574 in The military technology of classical Islam by D Nicolle
574. Relief, late 11th century AD, Italo-Norman, in situ, Church of San Bernadetto, Brindisi.

---

Referenced on p37 MAA 125 - The Armies of Islam 7th-11th Centuries by David Nicolle & Angus McBride.
Arab influence was very strong in southern Italy, and this frieze over the door of a late 11th century Apulian church is in a strongly Islamic style. The huntsman at left wears the heavily quilted type of soft-armour associated with North Africa. (Church of San Bernadetto, Brindisi)

---

Referenced on pp.250-251, Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, Western Europe and the Crusader States by David Nicolle
665A-C Carved relief, Apulia, late 11th century
(in situ south portal of Church of S. Bernadetto, Brindisi, Italy)
This frieze representing huntsmen is perhaps the most Islamic-influenced of 11th century southern Italian carvings. One man not only has a tall helmet with a probable nasal (A), but he wields a broad-bladed spear with an apparent bamboo haft. His coat or tunic appears to be padded or quilted. All these features suggest strong Islamic, or more particularly North African influence. The other two figures also have short spears, one with wings or flanges (B), but their main interest lies in the distinction drawn between their apparently ordinary tunics and that of the first figure.