ARNAUD SPANI/CORDON PRESS1 CHRIST THE JUDGE
In the center is Christ
enthroned, depicted inside
a mandorla, an almond-
shaped frame. The people
he is judging occupy the
lower tier. Some of the
saved, greeted by Abraham,
are on his right. The
damned are to his left.
2 THE BLESSED
To the left of Christ are
figures of the Court of
Heaven. Among their
number are the Virgin
Mary, St. Peter, a holy
hermit from Conques, and
Charlemagne, who donated
lands on which the earlier
abbey was built.3 WEIGHING SOULS
Immediately below Christ,
St. Michael and a devil
weigh souls on a scale
to determine if their fate
is heaven or damnation.
Immediately to the left
of St. Michael, angels are
opening the graves to
rouse souls to be judged.4 HELL
The tympanum depicts
punishments awaiting the
damned. An adulterous
couple tied to each other,
while another man is being
trampled by a demon. On
the far right, one of the
damned is being roasted on
a spit over an open fire.4231