Tetes de Rois
The National Museum of the Middle Ages (Musee National du Moyen Age), also known as the Cluny Museum (Musee de Cluny), has an outstanding collection of medieval art. The "Tetes de Rois" (Heads of Kings), were once part of the 28 monumental statues of the Kings of Judah on the western facade of Notre Dame. Carved in 1220, the statues were destroyed during the French Revolution and their whereabouts were unknown for nearly 200 years until parts of 22 of the statues were discovered in an 1977 excavation nearby in Paris.
Another rack contained more complete heads, and an adjacent exhibit displayed some of the headless statues. This exhibit, with seemingly-spiked heads seemed a bit ghoulish.
Tetes de Rois
The National Museum of the Middle Ages (Musee National du Moyen Age), also known as the Cluny Museum (Musee de Cluny), has an outstanding collection of medieval art. The "Tetes de Rois" (Heads of Kings), were once part of the 28 monumental statues of the Kings of Judah on the western facade of Notre Dame. Carved in 1220, the statues were destroyed during the French Revolution and their whereabouts were unknown for nearly 200 years until parts of 22 of the statues were discovered in an 1977 excavation nearby in Paris.
Another rack contained more complete heads, and an adjacent exhibit displayed some of the headless statues. This exhibit, with seemingly-spiked heads seemed a bit ghoulish.