Croix

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The twelve circles of this stele recall the cross of Toulouse with twelve pommes. Representations, on stelae, of the Toulousian cross are indeed frequent in this region. However, this one represents more a reproduction of the ancient arms of the counts of Toulouse, that is to say a cross flanked by besans and not the fleury and pommy cross adopted later. The stele could therefore date from the 13th century, if not from the end of the preceding century. It is a discoid stele forming one piece with its base in the shape of a truncated pyramid. On the north face, the circular perimeter is underlined by a groove framed by beads. At the centre, a large triangular instrument in the shape of a trowel is carved in relief. In the field, several trefoil crosses, originating from the perimeter, are directed towards the centre. On the south face, Greek cross in relief, flanked by twelve besans, also in relief. The diagonals are marked by four small crosses in intaglio.