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Later on Sancho el Mayor of Navarra, King of Navarra,
introduced Cluny´s Benedictine rule, adopting new
reforms in the Monastery that caused a new consecration
in 1049. Soon after the Monastery became the royal pantheon
of the Kingdom of Aragón.
Being the first to adopt it, the Monastery
played an important role in the introduction of the Cluniac
reform. Cluny´s ecclesiastical and political suggestions
had a great influence on society at that time.
The Monastery comprises two levels. The
first level is situated right below a giant rock that
seems to have swallowed the monastery. The cloisters on
the terrace are unroofed, but the rock overhanging the
columns provides a firm roof. This creates an atmosphere
of fortitude and mystery that explains the perseverance
of the monks of that time.
The capitals of the columns at the cloisters
display sculptures created by an anonymous artist. They
represent stories from the Bible and the lifes of some
characters from the Gospel. The figure of the Inmaculada
Concepción is worthy of note for the intensity
reflected in the eyes. There are also sculptures of vegetal
figures, with bulbous forms, curly stems with leafs...
The compositions fill all the available room and adapt
subtly to the form of the capitals.
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