In the Middle Ages, depictions of the zodiac signs and monthly tasks symbolised time and its passage, the rhythm of the seasons and monthly activities. Together, these two motifs form the motif of the calendar cycle. In general terms, the calendar cycle in medieval iconography has the purpose of representing the passage of time, the earthly time created by God. However, since the calendar cycle motif rarely appears as a stand-alone motif and is mostly integrated into a broader iconographic context, its specific meaning is also dependent on this context. In this thesis, I focus on the 12th century, since this is the period when the most magnificent monuments were created, which used the two motifs packed together as the motif of the calendar cycle in their iconographic design. Attention is paid in particular to two examples of architecture from France of the period. These are the example of the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene in Vézelay and that of Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres.
The assignment is structured in such a way that it considers the two motifs first individually, and then as a common motif, the cycle of time. In order to facilitate an understanding of the role of the motif in the 12th century, the assignment also includes a historical overview of key examples of depictions of the two motifs, from their first appearances in antiquity to the 12th century, when they were already established as motifs in their own right. The importance of the allegory of the church, which influenced the medieval perception of church architecture and its components, is also highlighted. Through the study of these examples, the importance of a specific calendar cycle in a specific context in the 12th century is revealed.
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