Arthous (Landes)


Another sophisticated corbel-table, this time comparing two sets of couples:
the naked pair on the left are the unsaved sinners, with
snakes writhing around their bodies.
The clothed pair on the right, hoth holding crosses and covering genitals and breast,
are St Augustine's two saved souls united for the purpose of making more souls that will be saved.




 

Carved about the same time as the above is a much cruder pair in the Castilian hamlet of Santa Marta del Cerro (Segóvia) -
the male with very large, cylindrical penis and the woman clutching her pregnant belly:
she is about to give birth to a soul that is unlikely to be saved.

click for another couple nearby

 

Arthous: Eve with the apple in her hand, while Adam puts his hand to his throat in a gesture of despair.
Both hide their genitals as a result of the almost-universal Christian misinterpretation of Original Sin
so imperfectly described in the book of Genesis.


click for more couples >