Medieval Europe - 1050-1500

In medieval Europe, monarchy and the Church were the two most important institutions. Throughout the period they competed for political supremacy. Society was based on a feudal system, where the majority of people were peasants working the land for their lord. However, the rapid growth of towns and an influential merchant class stimulated properity and changed traditional social structures.

This carving shows a man and a mythical beast engaging in combat. The man, wearing a short tunic, stands astride the dragon's tail, grips its neck and thrusts a spear into its breast. This is likely to be an allegory of the human struggle against evil. The carving was found in the monestary of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where it may have been part of a doorway.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.

Scanned : Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)