Cradle – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
**Featured Doors** Main Entrance Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, Italy. Image credit: © Antonio Truzzi | Dreamstime

spiritual portals

swinging on unknown hinges

pivot cradle doors

**

Considered by some as the cradle of history and Christian spirituality in Milan, and built by one of the pillars of the early church, St. Ambrose, stands the basilica named in his honor: the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan Italy. It is one of the oldest churches in the city.

**Featured Doors: Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan, Central Arcade’s main portal wood doors.

The doors pictured above are fully restored back to what was believed were their original appearance.

In order to achieve the restoration, experts first conducted years of scientific research and chemical analyses on the doors. The results were not what the researchers had expected to find.

The basilica’s historical records suggest that these doors date back to the 14th century and were restored in 1750 AD. However, recent high-tech test results (2007-2008) reveal that the doors comprise several mismatched wood components, some of which are much older than the basilica’s earliest origin in 379 AD.

In fact, carbon dating on the wood components that make up the featured doors, indicates that significant portions of the doors’ wood date back to around 50 BC (predating the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, by more than 420 years!)

A Wider angle of the main archade entrance to the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan is below:

Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, Italy. Image credit: OlyaSolodenko | Stock

Trivia: #1: As you can imagine, doors with a hodge podge of woods parts had to appear as a homogenous whole throughout the centuries of this basilica’s history. To achieve that effect, researchers discovered that the doors were ingeniously vaneered with layers of polychrome tinted in brown pigments enhanced by a mixture of bits of lead, dirt, and copper acetate to attain what the researchers termed, “a uniformed visual aspect!“

Trivia #2: The iconic facade of Royce Hall, UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) was inspired by/copied from the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan’s Romanesque design (An image is below).

Royce Hall, UCLA, University of Southern California USA. Image credit: © Chon Kit Leong | Dreamstime

**Fun Fact: Did you ever wonder where the quote: “When in Rome do as the Romans do” came from? The original documented source is that this quote was advice Saint Ambrose (this Basilica and Milan’s patron saint) offered to St. Augustine.

The context was that St. Augustine remarked to Saint Ambrose that the mass/service in Rome differed from anywhere else he had traveled. To which it is reported that St. Ambrose replied: “When in Rome do as the Romans do!”

**

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

44 thoughts on “Cradle – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors”

  2. Thank you so much, Suzette, for the interesting story, and the beautiful images! I love to learn something new each day, and I already have from your erudite post!

    Joanna

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Pingback: Cradle – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  6. The interesting stuff we learn through these magnificent door offerings are always simply amazing. I had no idea that the quote you highlighted was coined by Saint Ambrose in a chat with St. Augustine. Would be fun to know how the quote was popularized. I found out through further reading that St. Ambrose was a lawyer, governor and great Christian Bishop too.

    I own spiritual life hinges on our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

    Beautiful and uniquely stylized doors, carved from mismatched wood that is older than the cathedral itself.. Amazing history.

    🏛The iconic facade of Royce Hall, UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) was inspired by/copied from the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio, Milan’s Romanesque design🏛

    Establishing or showcasing their historical connection.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad to hear that the bits of information were of interest. My pleasure!
      I don’t know how the phrase was popularized. Great question.
      Amen!! Well said the Spirit of God as hinge… Brilliant insight.
      Regarding: Royce Hall. Your question is spot on in its phrasing. Yes, the use of this specific Basilica as inspiration for Royce Hall UCLA is:
      a) the building designer and Master planner George W. Kelham wanted to bring to mind the profile of the then new university (UCLA 1927) building the status and “sensibilities” ” of the famous iconic Northern Italy aura to the new rugged and similar landscape of that part of the then new areas of Los Angeles.
      b) Royce Hall’ s builders/architects wanted the Romanesque style of this Basilica to represent the birth of knowledge that a prestigious university (they hope UCLA would become) might engender.
      Their plan was so successful that over the years many other places have copied from their inspired copy of this Basilica.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m in awe of how the two worlds continued to inspire each other and embracing the best of what the old world had to offer.
        Makes sense since St. Ambrose was a knowledgeable man.
        I remember you posting a similar story where the facade of a European Cathedral was replicated also at a place of higher learning.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, me too! There is a serendipity almost to the way in which higher education buildings in North America draw on Europe’s churches architecture. Fascinating.

        Yes, good memory! Our Lady of Victory Chapel in Saint Paul Minnesota copied from Arles France’s Saint Trophime Cathedral.
        Happy Thursday blessings to you.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Yes that’s right Minnesota.
        I think that these institutions of high learning understand the important role the church played in passing on knowledge, arts an architecture.
        Happy Thursday too.
        Out an about a bit today.
        Enjoy

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Your haiku is intriguing, Suzette, and the story even more so. Building and maintaining such a remarkable set of doors for hundreds of years must have been difficult. I guess the artisans didn’t realize how much interest we would have in their work. I love the photo of the inspired facade at Royce Hall. Also, thanks for the origin of that phrase. I like knowing tidbits like that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So true Dan, it must have been quite the task to maintain these doors over the centuries. Bless them for their creativity in doing so.
      Yes, I wonder what the artisans would think of the methods used today to get a glimpse into the breadth of their labors and creative solutions.
      Thank you Dan for your support and for all your work on ThursdayDoors.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Love this unique basilica! Imposing in nature! Fun facts are really interesting. Thank you, Suzette for one more magnificent door and your haiku!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. The story of those doors is fabulous. They must have originally been on a Roman temple or other important non-Chriatian structure. How great would it be to see those?! As always, I love how your haikus make me want to read the backatory. Maggie

    Liked by 1 person

  13. That first photo reminds me very much of the Cloisters.
    The double story arches are beautiful. And the UCLA building, with its row of arches on either side, is a wonderful incorporation of that feature. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, that first view does indeed look like the Cloisters. Good point, Kerfe!
      Agreed, the UCLA interpretation is to me, symmetry and elegance in balance.
      Thank you for your beautiful comments and insights. I’m glad you found good purchase in the share.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Another fulfilling journey through the vision of this set of doors. I enjoyed seeing the comparison of a modern building on the UCLA campus with the historic cathedral’s design.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. What an intriguing article! I enjoyed learning about the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio and its fascinating history. The featured doors are truly impressive. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

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