The church is a huge Egypticus-building, that- in the 14th century replaced
an older Romanesque church, of which the tower partly survives. The church
itself was even older, from the middle of the 12th century. Its principal
portal has been preserved as north entrance to the present church-and very
well preserved as far as the fine tympanum relief is concerned. It could
have been transported here from the cathedral of Lund, and so could the
flanking lions. The tympanum shows Christ enthroned and the story of Cain
and Abel. Both lions, I suppose, were originally lying in front of the threshold,
supporting columns with a baldachin-like arch. The sculptor was master "Majestatis".
On the nave portal we meet again the special signature of master "Egypticus",
the grinning troll masks. The interior breathes a solemn seriousness created
by the weightiness and simplicity of the architecture. The cubistic masks
of the eastern column capital bring to mind Egyptian Hathor-capitals-a good
explanation of the master's pseudonym.
Photo Hans Hemlin
Text Dr. Bengt G Söderberg
©1997 Created by Sören_Gannholm