Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Brittany

154  BRIT T AN Y REGION B Y REGION

Crozon: Altarpiece of the Ten Thousand Martyrs

The Église St-Pierre in Crozon (see p152) contains an altar piece that
gives a magnificent visual account of the story of the Ten Thousand
Martyrs. It tells the story of the 10,000 sol diers of the Theban Legion
who, as punishment for their Christian faith, were put to death on
Mount Ararat by Emperor Hadrian during his Armenian campaign
in the second century. The soldiers’ crucifixion and their composure in
the face of death were intended to reflect the Passion of Christ. The
altar piece, made in 1602, is certainly the work of several artists, and it
is one of many depictions of the theme that were creat ed during the
Renaissance. The story also appears in Anne of Brittany’s Book of Hours.

Acace Garcère and His Angel
Troops On the eve of battle, the
The legionnaires, under angel invites the martyrs
the command of the to embrace their faith.
orator Acace
Garcère, choose
death rather than
denial of their
Christian faith. The
Roman soldiers,
meanwhile, show their
determination as they 10,000 Legionnaires
prepare for war and During the reign of
execute an ostentatious Emperor Hadrian, an
military parade. army was raised to put
down a revolt by the
inhabitants of Armenia.

Confusion
of Battle
The future martyrs
throw themselves
into battle. Despite
their entreaties to
the gods, fear
spreads among
the pagan ranks.

KEY
1 Hadrian’s soldiers gather stones
to throw at those who profess their
faith in Christ, but the stones fly back
to hit them.
2 The upper triptych depicts the
martyrs receiving communion.
3 The Crown of Thorns, which
was suffered by Christ, is inflicted
on the martyrs.
4 The condemned reassert their
faith after they have been led by the
angel to the place of their execution.

For hotels and restaurants see p227 and pp239–41

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