photo 5 of 17
Autun Cathedral: Capital: Dream of the Magi

Capital: Dream of the Magi

Romanesque capital from the choir, now displayed in the chapter house. It depicts a charming scene in which the Three Kings, wearing their crowns and sharing one cozy bed, are awakened by an angel pointing to a star. The king being poked by the angel has his eyes open in surprise, but the others slumber on. This seems to combine two biblical episodes into one scene. The star recalls the one that led them to Bethlehem, while the angel awakening them refers to the warning they received in a dream not to return to Herod after visiting the Christ Child.

Credit: Holly Hayes