Bern, Cathedral Facade. Judgment Day. How the deed was done.

Castration was commonplace in the medieval and ancient worlds, with the procedure producing male vocalists who sang in the range of female alto or contralto, or who could then guard the ruler's women without the ruler fearing intrusion.  Cyrus the Great had only castrated men in his personal service, including doormen.  The "third sex" -- a reference term. It served to make them more tractable; or was used as punishment.

How was it done?  There, upper right, above the pointed arch, an imp with nippers. Judgment Day.  The losers.

Bern Cathedral facade, parade to doom

See the implement at Archeology Odyssey November-December 2004 at p.56, article The Cruelest Cut, Castration in the Ancient World, http://www.bib-arch.org/archaeology-odyssey.asp. For a contribution, obtain online access.  There is a bronze castration clamp shown, from ancient Londinium,

Some priests, the Gallae, did it to themselves, dedicating the act to Cybele, Phrygian goddess of nature and fertility.

Detail, Judgment Day, Bern Cathedral facade, Switzerland

 

See more of Bern at posts 10/09 here.

Bern - Alpine Horns; and Cathedral Drama: the Munster Imp.

1.  Alpine horns at Bern's Clock Tower, Gate. Really big. Great sound. Slow. Measured. Toss a shiny franc in the young man's hat.

Alpine Horns, Clock tower and gate, Bern, Switzerland

.

Note the frescoes on buildings.

And what do you call, in architecture, those corner catch-all-viewing places,  the sitting areas at the building second floor area?  In Philadelphia, find the Philadelphia Busybody, an arrangement of mirrors that someone could affix to the outside of a second story window did the same thing.  See up, down, around, without disturbing the curtain. Similar purpose.

The old clock, figures go round each hour. See ://switzerland.isyours.com/e/guide/bern/zytglogge.html/

Close-up, Alpine Horn group, Bern, Switzerland; frescoes
/
The Alpine Horn group has a website, but until I find this particular one, here is another, with more horns, and an older group:  ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6qy8RVo4v4&feature=PlayList&p=173EBB938420F48F&playnext=1&index=9; or at :// www.travelistic.com/video/show/2934/Alpine-Horn-Performance-at-Lucerne-Restaurant/

2.  Now, on to the Cathedral.  Blame Rick Steves for this one.  He alerted us to the front, the facade, the archway with lovely painted figures sculpted inside the framing, with the usual heaven and earth lessons... but 

Bern Cathedral, Munster, Facade, Painted Figures

Closeup, Facade, Bern Cathedral, The Compulsory Abbreviation

There is the group going to hell, up there on the right.  Get closer.  Squint.  No!  Yes!  An imp up there with nippers is about to make the gentleman next in line less of a one.  Honest.  That is what is going on. See http://www.stonemfg.net/stone.htm/
.
From a distance, can't tell a thing. And, we listened in when we could, and guides didn't point it out either.  Even the angels look sad.

Munster means Church or Cathedral, we understand, thus Bernmunster.  Or the Munster of Bern. This site notes the scene, but calls it "harassing" - see ://www.sacred-destinations.com/switzerland/bern-cathedral.htm/  Can't we call a spade a spade?

NYT Archives:  The Times' articles on travel are worth looking up, even after years, because they are so clear.  No clutter.  Go to "What's Doing in Bern" from Sunday, March 9, 1980, and find bits. Bern means bear and is named that at its founding in 1191 by Berthold V of Behringen, Germany area. The name reflects the first animal seen on a hunt. It became a free city in 1218, and joined the Swiss Confederation (CH now, for Confederation of Helveticans) in1353. Then came a terrible fire in 1405, buring the wooden buildings; the rebuilt ones are of local sandstone. Big time administration: 50 territories, then reduced by Napoleon's administrators.  Next time we will see the Paul Klee collection.