The tympanum

medieval design

The term tympanum comes from ancient architecture and refers to a normally semi-circular decoration above an entrance. The tympanum above the giant’s door has a typical Romanesque scene: in the middle, Christ - as Pantocrator, King of the World - is flanked by 2 angels holding the mandorla (his aura). On the side lines are the 12 Apostles with the Evangelists Mark and Luke, one man to a column.

Below the Apostles you can see dragons, lions, basilisks and other demonic creatures. They are symbolic of war and death, which permeate life in the Middle Ages and are kept at bay here by ensnaring patterns of ribbon and leaves.