An arch in white and greenish grey marble is topped w a band of decorated marble and stands proud of the wall of the church, resting on columns with Corinthian capitals with lions' heads among the acanthus leaves. The tympanum arch is also decorated with acanthus leaves, resting on the heads of two lions, resting on their paws. In the centre is a tracery circle with 8 arms, each has a small column on which decorative arches perforate the circle. Further wavy and leafy decoration extends around the circle. Under that is a shelf-like feature extending forward with 10 supports. This too is elaborately decorated above and in 4 rows below the 'shelf' with inverted Us, egg-and-dart type decoration, leaves and beading. Below that is the header of the door: a panel featuring six mythical/mysterious scenes, eg a mermaid with a split tail that wraps in a circle over her head, a horse with a human body/head, a lion standing on/biting a ?bull and dragon-like creatures. This rests on Corinthian columns that form the doorway.

#TympanumTuesday
Distinctive decorative detail, + bonus #TraceryTuesday window, w mythical tales told on header of doorway below (see ALT), +++ #tinylions.
The portal w tympanum forms centre of blind arcade circling Lucca's San Michele in Foro: built over #Roman forum 8th C, rebuilt 11th-13th C.

Tympanum above doorway of Romanesque church, all in shades of white to creamy/goldish stone. Supported by flat columns and slender columns on either side, the latter more decorative, with lions resting on platform above Corinthian capitals. Tympanum arch is simple semi-circle with stylised leaf motif around the archivolt. The lintel above the door bears an inscription recording the date of a restoration in 1900s, above which is base of architrave, featuring decorative Romanesque lintel with lively scenes of people harvesting grapes from vines that curl around them.

#TympanumTuesday
Pure and simple.
Archivolt of acanthus leaves, 2 #tinylions + architrave carved w rural joys of the grape harvest add decorative touch to classic Romanesque front of Cathedral of St Christopher in Barga, Tuscany, originating 11th C.

Nor what an eagle looked like! 😬 (I have seen this one many times, love it! and there is a whole #TinyLions thing...!)

#TinyLions 😍

#SundaySermons
Exceptional C12 ambo/pulpit in Badia di Cava de' Tirenni, Campania: restored cosmatesque mosaic technique, as used in Westminster Abbey sanctuary.
Probably gift of King Ruggiero II of Sicily who wanted his Queen Sibilla to be buried in monastery.
+spot the #tinylions

#TinyLions! 😍

All we need now are #TinyLions! 🥰

An archway in rose and white marble, supported by 4 engaged columns stepping back on each side. One of the columns nearest the inside of the structure, and the section of archway above it, is in a black and white zig-zag pattern. Two other columns/arches have incised/inlaid decoration and the outermost column/arch is in rose marble. At the centre of the archway at the top is a relief of Christ on a throne ascending to heaven in an ovoid structure, supported/carried by an angel either side. Below this is a decorative row of acanthus leaves in relief. Below that, just above the door, is a relief of the 12 apostles w Christ in the middle. To each side and above the columns are two lions placed on marble stands sticking out of the wall. Above these are, on the left, an angel, and, on the right, a dove, both in relief.

Lucca's Cattedrale di San Martino features a grand porticoed arched entry begun in 1204 by Guido Bigarelli.
Above central doorway of 3, is this marble #TympanumTuesday showing the Ascension of Christ in the presence of the Virgin and Apostles. With #tinylions, angels and lots of decorative marble.

Nguh... 😮 #Harmony #TinyLions 🤩

#TinyLions 🤩

And some #tinylions for @dfgillie.bsky.social !!

#TympanumTuesday
Pure and simple.
Arch of acanthus leaves, 2 #tinylions + architrave carved w rural joys of the grape harvest add decorative touch to classic Romanesque front of Cathedral of St Christopher in Barga, Tuscany, originating 11th C.

It’s Caturday… tiny lion edition.
Save your sanity and do something kind for someone today ❤️🐾❤️
#Caturday #CatsOfBluesky
#tinylions

Oh hello! Peacock in fine photobombing fettle at Stanton Harcourt, #Oxfordshire, for #MonumentsMonday, the Harcourt family mascot fiercely guards George Simon Harcourt, d 1809, & his early C19th gothic tomb. OK, there are zany #tinylions, too, but cross the peacock at your peril!

Henlo,
dis is Caturday! We have da fraps dis mornin cuz mobs gived a Churus
#CatsofBluesky
#Caturday
#tinylions

Glorious #TilesOnTuesday at Kempsford, #Gloucestershire, as part of the reredos - not sure if part of the Street restoration c. 1858, or the 1880 one? But happy happy #tinylions

Ripon cathedral pew carving.
#Woodensday #TinyLions

#StainedGlassSunday
From the cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral. I’m afraid that I don’t know anything about it but it is one of my favourite #TinyLions

For #TilesOnTuesday, the glorious swer of tiles put in, I presume, as part of the Lady Chapel's refitting in 1871 by Slater and Carpenter - not sure who they are by... #Chichester cathedral #tinylions #zodiac

A special place reserved for eagle lecterns suffering from existential angst. Especially when accompanied by first rate supporting #TinyLions.

Rare pre-Reformation lectern, in St Mary's, Cropredy.

On the tweexers they even have a #TinyLions 😀

Also u are doing great!

A few of the original floor tiles from Malvern Priory. Around 100 different designs still exist, dating from between 1450 and 1500. Oddly they're all now stuck to walls, with the current floor tiles being 19th century replicas. Spot the #TinyLions
#TilesOnTuesday #MedievalTwitter

OK, so not exactly on the theme of #ChristmasInChurches I know, but look! 👀
Two golden lions with their very own Guard Cones at the side entrance to Tewkesbury Abbey! ☺️
#AnimalsInChurchesHour #TinyLions

Another building encounter following a wrong turn! The lovely #ArtDeco Odeon Cinema, Richmond, 1930. Designed by Julian Leathart & WR Grainger, it is steel-framed, brick clad, with faience front.
Note the fabulous central lion masks! #TinyLions
More info:...

For God and Country. Stained glass, St Andrew's Church, Headington. #TinyLions, #Cobwebs, and of course #CrownsInChurches. #AnimalsInChurchesHour

Memorial window from Hereford Cathedral with #CrownsInChurches and some bonus #TinyLions for #AnimalsInChurchesHour
[will need a click]

Window fragments in The Lady Chapel at Wells Cathedral with angel and trumpet. Look closely, and I don't think it's too fanciful to imagine a pride of #tinylions too.. #TheSoundOfMusic #AnimalsInChurchesHour

Plenty of contenders for #ironworkthursday along #Brighton #seafront Lovely balcony detailing on @mercurebrighton with bonus #tinylions at second floor.

A meander through @StMarysE17 churchyard #Walthamstow which has several Grade II listed tombs including surely everyone's favourite - the Solly tomb, resplendent with lion paws... Not sure it qualifies as a #tinylions post... 6/7

Plenty of #HeraldicBeastsInChurches on this chest tomb of the Chaucer family in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ewelme.
#TinyLions #AnimalsInChurchesHour