Back to the Lincoln Cathedral Jewish Heritage trail
Part of the West Front of Lincoln Cathedral.
West Front Frieze, map, 1a - Part of the original West Front Frieze, now preserved within the Cathedral, showing the torments of Hell. Much of the original frieze on the exterior has been restored with exact copies of the decayed originals. Due to on-going restoration work, some of the panels on the West Front have been covered in protective cases at the time of writing. The figures in the central panel may represent Jews being punished for the sin of Avarice. The hair of the sinners is being pulled in to a shape reminicent of one of the identifiying Jewish hats (the Phrygian hat).
West Front Frieze (map, no. 1) - This panel draws on the Jewish tradition of Abraham being the gate-keeper to heaven which is an idea that has been drawn into Christian thought.
West Front Frieze (map, no. 1) - Feast of Dives and Lazarus and Death of Lazarus. in the medieval period Lazarus was held to represent the Jews, and, Dives the Christians.
West Front Frieze (Map, no. 1) - The labours of Adam and Eve showing Adam and Cain tilling the ground and the hand of God reaching down with a bag with a gift of seeds or perfume--a motif taken from Jewish tradition. This panel was covered for restoration at the time of writing.
The Giants at the Flood - Ringer's Chapel (map no. 2) - Panels high-up in the Ringer's Chapel, showing Noah and the Ark on left (panel fragment) and the 'Giants and the Flood' on the right. This scene may have been taken direct from a 10th C. Jewish legend concerningthe fate of the sinful Giants.
A Jewish Star incised on the wall of the Cathedral. These may have been pilgrim marks.
Dean's Eye Window - Scenes of St Hugh of Avalon Burial and 'Jewish' Stars (map, no. 3) -A scene from the Dean's Eye Window believed to show Bishop Hugh's funeral. One of the kingly pall-bearers (left) is black and may reference the story of the Jews following the Bishop's body, or the Black Magus.
Dean's Eye Window - Scenes of St Hugh of Avalon Burial and 'Jewish' Stars (map, no. 3) - Stars of David in the Cathedral--these may refer to the Psalms of David.
The Feretory and Magna Carta Facsimile (map, no. 4) - The Magna Carta facsimile at the Cathedral. The Lincoln original can now be viewed at the Castle in a major new exhibition. Magna Carta contains clauses specifically concerning money lending by Jews. These were prejudical to the Jewish community.
Miracles of the Virgin - Theophilus and the Virgin; the Miracle of the Jewish Boy of Bourges (map, no. 6) - The story of Theophilus and the Virgin. This scene shows a Jewish Wizard (wearing a pointed Jew's Hat), acting as an intermediary to the Devil, and arranges for Theophilus to sell his soul.
Miracles of the Virgin - Theophilus and the Virgin; the Miracle of the Jewish Boy of Bourges (map, no. 6) - The Legend of the Jew of Bourges. The surviving panels shows the Jew of Bourges pitching his son into the furnace (panel right). The Virgin then rescues him unharmed (panel left).
The Angel Choir - Site of the Head Shrine and Traditional Grave Site of St Hugh of Avalon a saviour of Jews and Philo-semite - (map, no. 7)
The Visceral Tomb of Queen Eleanor - Persecutor of Jews (map, no. 8)
Moses with Horns - Stained Glass Windows, East Window South Aisle and Theophilus Window (map, no. 8) - Moses with horns in a scene depicting the Egyptians drowning in the Red Sea and showing another Jew wearing the contemporary Jew's Hat (Theophilus window upper panel).
The Tomb of Bishop Grosseteste - Hebraist and Persecutor of Jews (map, no. 10)
South Choir Aisle - The Shrine of Little Hugh and the Lincoln Blood Libel (map, no. 11) - The remains of the Shrine of Little Hugh as they still appeared in the time of Dugdale, just before the Civil War, in the 17th Century. Most of the shrine was then intact, but missing a statue of a crucified boy which was stored in a passage behind the main altar.
South Choir Aisle - The Shrine of Little Hugh and the Lincoln Blood Libel (map, no. 11) - The remains of the Shrine of Little Hugh with new interpretation panel to the right. Only the plinth and part of the back survive.The evidence of the shrine's construction suggests that Edward I, the persecutor of Jews, enlarged and repurposed the shrine as propaganda for his own piety and magnification.
South Choir Aisle, West Portal (map, no. 12) - The night-owls at Lincoln, near to the Shrine of Little Hugh, represents Christ becoming a Jew and seeking out Jews and sinners for redemption.
South Choir Aisle, West Portal (map, no. 12) - Winged serpents attempting to eat bunches of grapes are simultaneously attacked by men (or angels) with swords. This serpent could be an allusion to the Jewish Legend of Samael and the original temptation of Adam
'Church and Synagogue' - The Judgment Porch (map, no. 13) - Judgement Porch - The figure of 'Synagogue' (above) supported on a medieval Jew (below) bearing the 13th Century Jewish Badge.
Bishop Chesney built the extensive Bishop's Palace with money with a loan of £300, borrowed from one of Lincoln's most famous Jews, Aaron.
