Dragons and crosses
One of the largest stave churches in Norway, Lom church was built after about 1158 in the municipality of the same name in Oppdal. The church was expanded into its current cruciform shape during the 17th century and is still in use as a parish church.
See the charred texture of the wall?
Every few years the churches were tarred to safeguard the wood against the challenging weather conditions. Over the years the wood would become more and more light and more vulnerable, indicating it was time for another layer of this protective black coating. The tar was not made of crude oil, but coaxed out of charcoal after a lengthy process of burning wood in artificial mounds until black molasses would ooze out.
These medieval churches were notable for mixing Christian iconography and pagan designs like dragons and animals, giving them a distinctive look found nowhere else in the world.
The carved dragon heads featured in the eaves are modern exact replicas, installed in 1964, so that the originals could be preserved.
Norway, 2018
Dragons and crosses
One of the largest stave churches in Norway, Lom church was built after about 1158 in the municipality of the same name in Oppdal. The church was expanded into its current cruciform shape during the 17th century and is still in use as a parish church.
See the charred texture of the wall?
Every few years the churches were tarred to safeguard the wood against the challenging weather conditions. Over the years the wood would become more and more light and more vulnerable, indicating it was time for another layer of this protective black coating. The tar was not made of crude oil, but coaxed out of charcoal after a lengthy process of burning wood in artificial mounds until black molasses would ooze out.
These medieval churches were notable for mixing Christian iconography and pagan designs like dragons and animals, giving them a distinctive look found nowhere else in the world.
The carved dragon heads featured in the eaves are modern exact replicas, installed in 1964, so that the originals could be preserved.
Norway, 2018