Lace – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
*Featured Door, West Portal, Batalha Monastery, Portugal. Image credit: Zenonk | Dreamstime.com

vows in hewn lace

a thank you built of stone

guard well, carved words

**There is a bonus doorway in this week’s post.

Built as the King of Portugal’s thank-you note and in fulfillment of his vow to the Virgin Mary for Portugal’s miraculous victories over the Kingdom of Castile’s superior cavalry The Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory (Batalha Monastery) in Portugal was constructed from 1386 to 1517.

Featured Door, West Portal Entrance, Batalha Monastery (image below)

West Portal, Batalha Monastery, Portugal. Image credit: © Clement Mantion Pierre Olivier | Dreamstime

Above the featured wooden doors, Christ is enthroned in the tympanum, while the archivolt features four rows of sculptures depicting local saints, bishops, biblical prophets, and kings, totaling 78 figures.

The twelve apostles flank the doors, six on either side. *Note the twelve apostles are replicas— the originals succumbed to various “historical” calamities.

Trivia #1: The Institute of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage, an in-house research facility at Batalha Monastery, focuses on restoration and collaborative initiatives for the monastery’s present and future upkeep.

Trivia #2: Batalha Monastery is one of the filming locations for the current Netflix fantasy movie Damsel. Damsel stars Millie Brown and Angela Bassett. Within a few short months of its 2024 air date Damsel has vaulted into Netflix’s top 10 movies list with 137 million views in 87 days.

*Bonus Door and Fun Fact:

The “Bonus Door” is the unfinished portal to The Capelas Imperfeitas (Unfinished Chapels) at Batalha Monastery.

The unfinished 45-metre high (147 ft) doorway to the also unfinished chapels (seven of them) is outlined in show-stopping “embroidered”-in-stone lace trim (An image is below).

Never-confirmed centuries-old rumors persist that the work was discontinued because the highly skilled carvers at work on this door and the attached chapels were sent to the then-new construction underway at Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon (circa 15th century).

Portal Entrance, The Unfinished Chapels, Batalha Monastery, Portugal. Image credit:  © Zts | Dreamstime

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

56 thoughts on “Lace – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors”

  4. Beautiful poetry and lovely doors with an interesting history. I might look up some of those “historical” calamities. The unfinished door is quite the bonus. That’s lovely. I can’t begin to imagine the talent required to bring that beauty out of stone.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Dan. Yes the building and its structures have endure much and yet still standing.
      I too could not imagine the skill and vision required to carve so intricately.
      P.S. I know you look out for all things of the critter variety…Did you spot the winged little visitor in the second photo?

      Liked by 1 person

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

  8. Your back stories are always interesting, Suzette. It’s an amazing architecture with lovely doors. Haiku, as always, captures every detail in a few words.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. what a wonderful musing in haiku for these magnificent doors.

    The decision to use a lace pattern is in keeping with the vow we know.

    i am in awe of the beauty that lies within the unfinished work, in effect it stands there as a celebration of the carvers work.

    Typical, I never heard about the movie Damsel. I shall definitely read some reviews but can’t promise to watch it. Although considering this majestic monastery, I should indulge

    🖊The Institute of Architectural and Archaeological Heritage, an in-house research facility at Batalha Monastery, focuses on restoration and collaborative initiatives for the monastery’s present and future upkeep🖊

    I love the thinking of the church in this regard.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, well spotted… the connection between lace and a vow, absolutely right.

      I saw the mention of Damsel on the internet but did not realize where it was partly filmed until the research for the monastery.

      I agree with you that the in-house research service to look after this petual vow…is intentional in a beautiful way…

      Have a lovely Thursday!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I haven’t had the time yet to read the reviews. Possibly over the weekend. I’d love to see a clip of the monastery.

        Yes that is exactly what great scholarship does.

        Wishing you a beautiful Thursday Poet, thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. What a beautiful building, and the stonework surrounding the bonus door is exceptional. Thanks for the film prompt which I have added to my viewing list.

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  15. It’s amazing how much it resembles lace! I’m glad there are people in the photo to show the incredible size of it as well. The echoed layers are lovely. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  18. That bonus door is a sight to behold! I bet it’s even better in person. Enjoyed the details about your doors. Very interesting! I had not heard of Damsel so will be looking out for that one.

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. “Vows in hewn lace” — nice! I am in awe always of those artisans; there must have been not just skill but also some serious faith involved in this art. I wonder if they wondered if we’d be admiring their work generations later. I can’t help shaking my head, though, about beautiful places of worship built in thanksgiving for winning war.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Great points Maureen. Faith in their art was perhaps a great motivating factor. Did they hope that their work would last for generations? Great question. I don’t know but I am glad that they choose stone as their medium…stone does tend to outlast other mediums. Yes, building an abbey/cathedral in thanksgiving for winning wars…is an intriguing reason!

      Liked by 2 people

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