“Merovingian and Early Carolingian Art”: The Cenotaphs of the Mausoleum at Jouarre

The cenotaph for the tomb of Abbesses Theodechilde, the first abbess of Jouarre, and that of the later abbess Agilberte (visible in the distance here) both date from sometime in the eighth century.  One could omit them from an upper-level survey, but they may merit passing reference.  The cenotaph of Agilberte bears an overall pattern reminiscent of a textile, and that of Theodechilde bears two rows of shells between an inscription presented in three rows.  This inscription refers to the parable of the wise and foolish Virgins in Matthew 25, which, in turn, relates this funerary monument to the Last Judgment.

Here are the inscription and a translation, for which I am only partially responsible (I began with a rough translation prepared by the boyfriend of one of my students, whose name I do not know):

HOC MEMBRA POST ULTIMA TEGUNTUR FATA SEPULCHRO BEATAE
THEODLECHELDIS INTEMERATAE VI[R]GINIS GENERE NOBILIS MERETIS
FULGENS STRINUA MORIBUS FLAGRAVIT IN DOGMATE [VERO?]
CENUBII HUIUS MATER SACRATAS DEO VIR[GINES]…
…[ACCIPIEN]TES OLEUM CUM LA[MP]ADIBUS PRUDENTE[S]…
…FILIAS OCCUR[RE]RE XPM HAEC DEMUM EX[S]ULTAT PARAD[ISUM]…

These limbs, after the last utterances, are covered in the tomb of blessed
Theodlechelde, a chaste maid, noble by birth, Illustrious
On account of her merits, vigorous in her habits, she was zealous in [true] doctrine
The mother of this monastery … the virgins sacred to God…
Wisely taking oil with their lamps…
… daughters to run to meet Christ.  At last she exults in paradise.