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Day 145: Guarding over Paris

Sainte Geneviève is the patron saint of Paris and standing really really tall on Pont de la Tournelle over River Seine is a statue of this wise and brave woman (who was said to have saved Paris from the plunders of Attila the Hun and performed numerous other miracles for the people of Paris), protecting the young Paris (depicted as a young girl here – holding a ship used by the Parisii tribe?) from all that sought to cause her harm.

This iconography is similar to the stained window of Église St-Pierre de Montmartre (photo on Flickr) which would quite ambiguously tells you it is Paris that Sainte Geneviève is looking out for. In this creation, Paris is holding Notre Dame Cathedral in her hands. Of course, note that Notre Dame wasn’t built until several decades following the death (and canonisation) of Sainte Geneviève, the representation at Pont de la Tournelle would probably be a more accurate depiction. But, what do I know? I am no historian.



Category: Project 365

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5 scribbles & notes

  1. m3d says:

    interesting info ;)

  2. Chloé says:

    i believe the ship in the child’s hands would be another symbol for Paris: the merchant ship present on the city badge. don’t you think?

    http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blason_de_Paris

  3. […] have previously introduced Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Today, we shall talk about Saint Denis, a martyr who was Bishop of […]

Scribble a note to Day 235: Saint Denis the Headless | Lil & Destinations… × Cancel reply


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