Description: South entrance of sanctuary
The 'S' is in the form of an inverted 'Z' which is representative of 11th century epigraphy.
Reference: The text is close to John 21: 15-17, in which Christ says twice to Peter: Pasce agnos meos and the third time: Pasce oves meas. In the inscription the verb in the third person plural (pascunt) refers to the three figures represented on the capital. These figures could well be the three pastors of souls who were the principal patrons of the church at Arnac (st. Pardoux, Abbot of Guéret, and St. Martial). The inscription can be dated to the end of the 11th century. (See Camus, "Deux témoins de la sculpture romane du Bas-Limousin en Poitou: les chapiteaux de la chapelle de Saulgé", BM, 134, 1976, 98.
Face:
PETR
PASCUNT [MEAS OVES]
Petrus pascunt meas oves.
Peter, they graze with my sheep.
Pierre, Ils font paître mes brebis.
Description: In the nave, south side, third bay. The church is 2km northwest of Pompadour. It was an ancient priory of Saint-Martial de Limoges, consecrated in 1028. A second building was consecrated in 1102 under the patronate of the Holy Trinity and Saint Pardoux.
The inscribed text is arranged vertically on the glory surrounding an angel and the Virgin.
Reference: The inscription quotes exactly Luke 1:35: Spiritus sanctus superveniet in te et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi, the angel's answer to Mary's question: Quomdo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco?
Face:
[SPS S]CS SVPERVEN
[I]ET IN TE
Spiritus sanctus superveniet in te.
The Holy Spirit will come onto you.