Die Pflanzen am Westportal des Basler Münsters

Abstract

The few plant motifs on capitals of romanesque churches are botanically of an equivocal, purely symbolic character. During the period of early gothic cathedral building the stone-carved plant decorations become more abundant and change into a distinctly naturalistic style. Along with the traditional vine-leaves plants from the native popular belief and medical knowledge are now introduced, as attributes of the saints but also as a defence against demons, at the gates, windows and the keystones of the groined vaults. For a botanically interested observer the «Westportal» of the Basle cathedral is a particularly beautiful example of this plant symbolism of the 13^th century.