The Flickr Greekcross Image Generatr

La iglesia de Santa María de Retortillo en Cantabria (Spain), está sobre los restos de la ciudad romana de Julióbriga, desde donde se divisa un precioso paisaje. Este edificio románico del siglo XII consta de una sola nave, ábside, dos puertas de acceso, una de ella oculta por la construcción posterior de la espadaña.
Sobre la portada sur destaca un gran tímpano posiblemente reaprovechado mostrando dos monstruos, un grifo y un león ambos alados, con una cruz griega dentro de un círculo debajo de sus bocas; encima dos ángeles llevando una gran cruz latina.
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The church of Santa María de Retortillo in Cantabria (Spain) is located on the remains of the Roman city of Julióbriga, from where a beautiful landscape can be seen. This 12th century Romanesque building consists of a single nave, an apse, and two entrance doors, one of which is hidden by the later construction of the bulrush.
Above the south door there is a large tympanum, possibly reused, showing two monsters, a griffin and a lion, both winged, with a Greek cross inside a circle below their mouths; above them two angels carrying a large Latin cross.

Details best viewed in Original Size.

The Arts and Industries Building is the second oldest (after The Castle) of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Initially named the National Musem, it was built to provide the Smithsonian with its first proper facility for public display of its growing collections. The building, designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, opened in 1881, hosting an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. After being closed since 2004 for repair and renovation, the building reopened in 2021 with a special exhibition, Futures. The Arts and Industries Building was sited slightly farther back from the Mall than the Smithsonian Castle to avoid obscuring the view of the Castle from the Capitol. The building was designed to be symmetrical, composed of a Greek cross with a central rotunda. The exterior was constructed with geometric patterns of polychrome brick, and a sculpture entitled Columbia Protecting Science and Industry by sculptor Caspar Buberl was placed above the main entrance on the north side. The interior of the building was partially lit through the use of skylights and clerestory windows. An iron truss roof covers the building. In 1883, the exterior was adjusted to use a more vibrant, maroon-colored brick. The building is composed of four pavilions, one at each corner, about 40 feet (12 m) square and three stories tall. These surround a central rotunda. Lower sections or "ranges" were placed outside the pavilions. Pervasive complaints of dampness and the poor health of the building's occupants led to the replacement of the wood floors in the 1890s. Balconies were added in 1896–1902 to increase space after a new Smithsonian Building failed to be authorized by the United States Congress. A tunnel was constructed in 1901 to the Smithsonian Institution Building next door.
This image was captured on negative film decades ago. Many years later the image was digitized via an Epson Perfection 3170 Photo scanner.
Info above was extracted from Wikipedia.

Explored August 16, 2024.

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

For the pun in the title, "Racó" means corner in Catalan.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Originariament, aquesta església lluïa amb tres àbsides, però el de la esquerra fou sacrificat al s. XVII per a construir-hi la sagristia. Llàstima...

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

Originally, this church was built with three apses, making it perfect. Unfortunately, the left-side one was destroyed to make room for the sacristy in the XVII Century.

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

For the pun in the title, "Racó" means corner in Catalan.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

For the pun in the title, "Racó" means corner in Catalan.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

For the pun in the title, "Racó" means corner in Catalan.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

=====================

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant Cugat del Raco.htm

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Foto presa amb una Folmer & Schwing Graflex Auto 5x7, made c.1911-1915; objectiu Kodak Projection Anastigmat f6.3; Fomapan 100.

Sembla que les esglesies dedicades a Sant Cugat tenen certa vinculació amb el millor del romanic català. Aquesta NO és Sant Cugat del Vallès, pero tot i ser molt més petita, es una de les joies (desconegudes) del romanic a Catalunya.

Es tracta de Sant Cugat del Racó, a ponent de Navàs, al Bages. Inicialment coneguda com a Sant Cugat de Castelladrall o Sant Cugat Salou (perquè era un alou o establiment del monestir de Ripoll). No fou coneguda com "del Racó" fins al s. XVII.

Tot i estar només envoltada per dues o tres cases, és un temple espectacular, on clarament Ripoll hi invertí força. L'esglesia actual (la 2ª documentada) data del s. XI, en estil romanic llombard. Té planta de creu grega amb tres absides a llevant (un va desapareixer al s. XVII per fer-hi la sagristia), campanar de cadireta i un magnific cimbori cilindric, únic a Catalunya. La porta és d'època gòtica.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant%20Cugat%20del%20Raco.htm


=====================

Picture taken with a Folmer & Schwing Graflex Auto 5x7, made c. 1911-1915; Kodak Projection Anastigmat f6.3 lens; Fomapan 100 film in 5x7 sheets.

This gorgeous, little, and lonely church is one of the (unknown) Romanesque jewels in Catalonia.

This is Sant Cugat del Racó, west of Navàs, in central Catalonia. Initially known as Sant Cugat de Castelladrall or Sant Cugat Salou (because it was an "alou" or establishment of the monastery of Ripoll). It was not known as "del Racó" until the XVII Century.

Despite being surrounded by only two or three houses among the countryside, it is a spectacular temple, in which Ripoll clearly invested a lot. The current church (the 2nd documented) dates from the XI Century, in Lombard Romanesque style. It has a Greek cross plan with three apses to the east (one disappeared in the 17th century to make way for the sacristy), a steeple bell tower and a magnificent cylindrical dome, unique in Catalonia (all the others of this era are polygonal. The door is from the Gothic period.

ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Cugat_del_Rac%C3%B3

www.artmedieval.net/Barcelona/Sant%20Cugat%20del%20Raco.htm

- Light Painting -

Magic 6" long exposure and unusual perspective, from beyond, taken in darkness with the natural illumination of candle lights.
In this framing, the 4 pink Hippeastrum flowers compose a Greek Cross shape that may also look like a suspended glass chandelier or a light applique.
I've made me some special candle torches and painted over the flowers during the entire long exposure, insisting in the spots that I wanted highlighted.
©WhiteAngel Photography. All rights reserved. #LimitEdition

This is the originary colour version on a real blue backdrop of my previous monochrome up-load.
The second stem of my Hippeastrum plant recently flourished and I joined the occasion to organize a second (and third) shooting with the Light Painting technique but with my innovative (or antique?) approach of using just candles instead of battery torches or spot lights/reflectors.

Notwithstanding the complexity of my technique, the textures of the flowers and the colours brightened by the fire are very vivid and may result particularly detailed with a great chiaroscuro plus.
The magenta component of these pink Hippeastrum flowers results warmed by the light of the candles, turning a little more yellowish, exactly how I could see them illuminated by the natural light of the flames.

Let's see how my Light Painting Album in progress will develop...

©WhiteAngel Photography. All rights reserved.

Ref.Cross AmaTest pink LP 147 XL Aff. altern. NO VM Best def

- Light Painting -
Magic long 6" exposure and weird perspective, taken in darkness with the natural illumination of candlelights.
This monochrome version anticipates the coloured one of tomorrow. The second stem of my Hippeastrum pink plant recently flourished and I joined the occasion to organize a second (and third) shooting with the Light Painting technique but with my innovative (or antique?) approach of using just candles instead of torches or spot lights/reflectors.
Notwithstanding the complexity of my technique, the textures of the flowers and the colours brightened by the fire are simply amazing and may result particularly detailed with a great chiaroscuro plus.
Let's see how my Light Painting Album in progress will develop...

©WhiteAngel Photography. All rights reserved.

Ref. Cross AmaTest pink LP Canon 147 XL NO VM Grey scale Best def
Edit: replaced grey scale edit with B&W rendering.
File name: Cross AmaTest pink LP Canon 147 XL BW VM BEST def
Canon EOS 250D - 31-01-2024 03:09:12 - 24mm - F/8 - 6 sec. - ISO 200 - Light source: fire

A fantasy short tale and Light Painting by White Angel. Enjoy ! ©WhiteAngel Photography. All rights reserved for both text and picture.
Features : The mirror of my lusts, an ancient mini scale, a modernist candelabra, some Vintage flower-shaped lantern/glasses holders, a precious cloth of sacred vestment hand-embroidered in gold with the holy Greek Cross with liliums shaped tips, an ancient book cover made of hand-embroidered fabric with gold threads and a beautiful Vintage collectable ciseled sward.

"The broken gost"

The ghost of a familiar repellent appearance, who was directed to "De rode Haring", the red herring,
a fake path towards delusions of omnipotence and vainglory, can now quit pontificating, magnificating himself at a mirror,
because IT's broken: it just reflects a rogue contour profile of his invisible face...No secrets, just his megalomaniac Ego
of emptiness and rage for humanity.
Humanity? He never had any. This is why he hates the entire human genre.

He can't own what he intrinsecally doesn't have.
He can't have what he intrinsecally doesn't own.

Paranoia can't have humanity, nor true good feelings, disabled on the same sad awful day of birth,
as it always happened when evil was born.

He used to assert that only idiots are invincible: no, the Good is. And, thanks Heaven's, it's much stronger than evil.
But, the broken ghost who was steadily under the illusion of landing on the farthest side of the planet Pluto,
is incapable to realize it because of his triumphant victorious unbeatable lowest I.Q.
A 'quidam' wannabe champ whose rage is stronger than him, hence can't even win on himself.

Dragging himself along paths of rotting white lilies,
he now lies fearful and exanimate, subjugated by his own scythe. Αυτός που ζει από το σπαθί, πεθαίνει από το σπαθί.

It doesn't have to seem Greek to you: 'he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword '.

Farewell, broken ghost !

Only Love can save. Not hate.
Love doesn't hurt, Love doesn't hate.
Love is Trust
Love is Truth
Love is Faith

WA

A photo WITH the ghost will follow in the next days.

©WhiteAngel Photography. All rights reserved for both text and photo.

Ref.Tale of broken ghost 070 VM aff. bagl. OK DEFFF
Shot today in natural candlelight.

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Strobist Info: Godox TT685N @ 1/2 power - camera left and fired via Godox XProN.

The tessellation molecule decorating this box is one of many similar patterns I designed after my visit to CfC conference in Zaragoza in February 2020. While sightseeing in the Aljafería castle, I stumbled upon an interesting floor tile pattern, and set out to design a similar tessellation in origami. Soon after I came back, the pandemic arrived, and I was distracted from those projects. The name of this tiling, _Greek Cross and Squares IV_ is not apparent when you look at the box, which has only a single molecule, but if you tessellate it and put no additional spacing between the molecules, you do get a pattern of crosses and squares. This is slightly different from the pattern I saw on the floor, which has crosses and squares of two different sizes.

Link: origami.kosmulski.org/models/box-greek-cross-squares-iv

Otranto occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. It gained importance in Roman times, as it was the nearest port to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea.

After the end of the Roman Empire, it was in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it surrendered to the Norman troops of Robert Guiscard in 1068. The Normans fortified the city and built the cathedral, that got consecrated in 1088. When Henry VI., son of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, married Constanze of Sicily in 1186 Otranto came under the rule of the Hohenstaufen and later in the hands of Ferdinand I of Aragón, King of Naples.

Between 1480 and 1481 the "Ottoman invasion" took place here. Troops of the Ottoman Empire invaded and laid siege to the city and its citadel. Legends tell that more than 800 inhabitants were beheaded after the city was captured. The "Martyrs of Otranto" are still celebrated in Italy, their skulls are on display in the cathedral. A year later the Ottoman garrison surrendered the city following a siege by Christian forces and the intervention of Papal forces.

-
Otranto had been one of the last Byzantine strongholds in Apulia, but finally had to surrender Robert Guiscard. It had probably been such a stronghold, as Otranto had been the kernel of "Magna Graecia" the Byzantine area in Apulia. It even hosted an autocephalous bishopric, only dependent of the patriarchal see of Byzantium since 968.

San Pietro is a Byzantine basilica a testimony of the Byzantine dominion in Terra d'Otranto upto 1068. It is dated to the 9th/10th century, built on the blueprint of a Greek Cross, which is typical for this period of Byzantine architecture

Bitonto, today a city of a population of about 55000, was probably founded by Greek settlers. Traces of a city wall dating to the 5th and 4th century BC were found. Legends tell that the name Bitonto is connected to an Illyrian king named Botone. Later "Civitas Butuntinenses" became a self-governing Roman municipium,

A Paleochristian basilica existed very early. During the 9th century, Bitonto successfully withstood a Saracen raid but got destroyed by Byzantine troops in 975. The Normans took over Apulia. In the 11th and 12th century. Under the rule of the Normans of Roger II of Sicily, William I of Sicily (aka William the Wicked) and William II of Sicily (aka William the Good), the city prospered and got new walls.

In 1227, Bitonto was the scene of ex-communication of Frederick II accused by pope Gregory IX of having come to terms with the sultan al-Malik al-Kamil.

The construction of the Chiesa del Crocifisso started in 1664. It replaced an older chapel that had fresco of the Crucifixion, that was considered miraculous. Following the increase in devotion to the sacred image, the original building had become insufficient for the needs of worship.

The church is built on an original Greek cross plan with domes.

AKA The Pantheon, shown in a vertical panorama.

www.bobocollected.com

Jerusalem 900 Silver Order of Malta Crucifix in Rope Chain Necklace, Vintage Greek Cross and Crosslets Bethlehem Israel

www.bobocollected.com

Jerusalem 900 Silver Order of Malta Crucifix in Rope Chain Necklace, Vintage Greek Cross and Crosslets Bethlehem Israel

www.bobocollected.com

Jerusalem 900 Silver Order of Malta Crucifix in Rope Chain Necklace, Vintage Greek Cross and Crosslets Bethlehem Israel