Hablingbo Church

The Church of Hablingbo (Swedish Hablingbo kyrka ) is one of the largest churches on the Swedish island of Gotland. It is beyond architecture Preziose a history of the island in the southern third of the island, the so -called " Sudret ". A picture stone with runic inscription and two labyrinths are among her jewels.

The Romanesque church tower is the only surviving member of a plant at the transition from the 12th to the 13th century. The Gothic nave and the chancel date from the middle of the 14th century, while the vestry in the 18th century was born.

The portals

The portal on the north side of the nave dates back from the Roman church. The main portal, it was originally located on the south side. The system established by the anonymous Master Majestatis in the second half of the 12th century portal is one of the handsomest specimens are preserved in Sweden from the Romanesque period. In the tympanum is a relief iconographic appealing themes of the story of Cain and Abel.

The Gothic portals of the south side are also richly decorated with reliefs. The portal of the choir is smaller than that of the ship and shows the Kapitellband next to representations from the early days of Jesus' life a sheep and a pig that stills five piglets. The Kapitellbänder probably from the workshop of the anonymous builder Egypticus.

The now heavily battered porch at the nave is one of the highlights of the creation of this workshop. It shows, among other male figures with banners. On the outer post give grotesque masks the portal through its dominant position a peculiar character. The posts are also decorated with the sculptures of the four Fathers of the Church, Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory and Jerome. On the heavily damaged tympanum is merely recognizes the Coronation of the Virgin.

South portal

Left mask at the south portal

Rights mask at the south portal

The interior

Provide is primarily the vaults and columns with capitals heavy impression of monumentality. The stylized face masks on the eastern capitals inspired the Swedish art historian Johnny Roosval (1879-1965) to give the anonymous masters of the 14th century the name " Egypticus ". Roosval was a specialist in the architecture and art of the Middle Ages, especially the churches of Gotland.

The establishment

In the choir there are fragments of medieval frescoes, which probably evolved in the mid-15th century. In addition to the Triumphal Arch of St Michael is slaying the dragon and on the north wall are Peter and Paul, John the Baptist and Saints, including the 1455 canonized saint Bernard of Siena represented. Of the medieval institution pieces little remains at the site. The once large collection of wooden sculptures, including a triumphal crucifix and statues of saints, since quite damaged, now preserved in museums.

Altar and pulpit

, Designed by Peter van Eghen and his more famous son Gert altarpiece sandstone dates from 1643rd He shows scenes of the Last Supper. The painted over pulpit should be a work of Visby carpenter Jochim Sterling or his workshop from the 17th century.

The mazes

There is a drawing of a classical labyrinth of about one meter in diameter on the inner wall of the tower chamber. It has the typical high number of 19 transitions and is partially painted over. On the south wall there is an unfinished Labyrinth: Only the basic pattern and the first three loops have been pulled out, complete it would be a maze with twelve speeds. The example is cited as evidence for the construction of drawn mazes. Labyrinths are also found in some other churches of Gotland; Troytowns as herein called this form of labyrinths are widespread in Scandinavia. The walls of the tower are covered by the historical graffiti. The left of the maze several ships can be seen.

The Runestone

In the cemetery of the church a stone image in 1988 with a runic inscription found. The stone was located at its original pitch, as well as its supporting stones were present. He was 30 to 40 cm below the surface, with the image side facing up. The rune stone is only slightly damaged, the scoring is completely preserved. The scribe area has been smoothly carved and chiseled, so decorating projects in half relief. The area is so well preserved that the Hautechnik can be studied. The decor consists of a ring cross, leaf ornaments and a ribbon belt. The runic script is located on the raised body of the snake, starting at her head. It translates as: