Figure 1.21 Basilica Church of St Magdalene, Vézelay. The main scene in the tympanum over the central doorway of the narthex represents the Pentecost.
Carved Capitals in the Nave
Some of the capitals in the nave are typical of the Romanesque fascination with the grotesque, with depictions of devils, beasts and monsters.
The Mystic Mill
Meaning The most famous scene in Vézelay shows Moses pouring the grain, which represents the law given by God while St Paul the Apostle gathers the flour that has been milled by Christ (Fig. 1.22).
CHAPTER 1 ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE AND SCULPTURE Light
The composition was cleverly designed to take full advantage of natural light. The figure of Moses representing the Old Testament faces west and St Paul representing the New Testament faces east, meaning they were either in shadow or light depending on the time of day. The wheel of the mill, symbolising Christ and creating the central motion of the scene, picks up constant light from the south.
