Description: Church tribune, capital on North wall. First letter = 3.5 cm. Height of B in bestia = 6.5 cm. Dates to 12th century.
Reference: The iconography of this capital comes from two sources: the Bible and legend. The figure on the main face is labeled Daniel, and he is surrounded by two beasts. This configuration is usually attributed to Daniel and the Lions. But the carved scene does not relate directly to the episode of Daniel in the lions' den. The sculpted scene most probably relates to Daniels triumph over the idol Bel and the dragon, the episode for which he was thrown into the lions' den. The inscribed text, Bestia plena doli non est is close to King Astyage's exclamation to the idol Bel. rapprocher de l'exclamation admirative du roi Astyage face à l'idole Bel: Magnus es, Bel, et non est apud te dolus quiquam (Dan. 14, 17).
This biblical passage relates to a local legend. A dragon named Jaille devastated the local countryside, and the town took its name from this monster.
Face:
DANIELIS
Daniel
Face:
1. QUANTA : DEI : PIETAS : QUANTUM : MERITUM/ 2. BESTIA : PLENA : DOLI : NON EST
That the goodness of God is greater than the merit of Daniel is great. The beast is not full of trickery.