A quiet street in Lund
A busy street in Lund
Not to be confused with the Trevi Fountain
This is would barely wash a pigeon's leg, a masterpiece perhaps of Nordic understatement.
Lund Cathedral, however,
is something else. Built from granite in the early C12th the building is austere and imposing. This is a Fortress of God, and if I'd been a pagan from up North...well, I'd have been immediately cowed.
Go
down into the Crypt and you're entering Dracula country. With a
suitable sound track it would look pretty creepy on screen, but in
reality it exudes a tremendous sense of peace...and age. In fact it has
remained largely untouched since its
consecration in 1123.
You walk in shadow through a small forest of densely built
pillars.
The most famous pillar is the one with the statue of a man embracing it. Local
legend has it that this is Finn the Giant, builder of the cathedral. Others say it represents Samson. The main alter in the Crypt is the oldest in the Cathedral, and was consecrated by Archbishop Asser on June 30th 1123. I love this clash between such accuracy and legend. One makes the other almost believable, though I have my doubts that the Crypt also holds the body of the Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.
There's room for prayer and...
...waiting for little men to walk out of clocks.
7 comments:
Finn looks like he's doing something else to that pillar. ;-)
Re: clock
We have the same thing happen in the US, only most of the people sit in cubicles and wear business clothes. Also, our clocks aren't as grand.
Ref Finn, why didn't I spot that? Guess I just don't possess your kind of mind, Maria ; ) but hell, I missed a trick there, along with your observation on clockwatchers. Cheers!
I have a huge appreciation for modern day conveniences and technology, but to walk along the cobblestone walkways and lanes or to stand within the walls of a building erected 9 centuries ago...well, to do so would leave me in awe.
Angela, I had the same feeling of awe looking at Monument Valley, walking the Great Salt Desert (well one or two miles : ) and of course the Grand Canyon. I think geological time trumps human time hands down. Having said that, every place, human or landscape, has its own peculiar magic
Okay, Maria's a pervert but we knew that. These pictures are beautiful but I have to agree that nothing man has created can top the wonders of nature.
Looks like a lovely village. The cathedral is inspiring. I wonder about the story behind that statue...
Ref Maria, I just wish I'd spotted that! Ref nature and man it's hard to differentiate. Beauty is beauty whether by random or conscious design. I'd go for the Grand Canyon over most things, and I much prefer seeing rain glistening on leaves in sunlight than more valuable jewels, still, we also are nature so it's case of seeking and enjoying the beautiful whatever.
Misha, everyone's wondering about the story behind that stature : )
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