RE: On the Forgotten Way: Saint Mary of Siones
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That note about the three hares tucked into the church really grabbed me. I love how a small detail can turn the visit into a game of looking closer, like the builders whispering now keep your eyes open. Does that motif pop up in other spots along the Forgotten Way or is Siones special for it?
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It's possible. Medieval stonemasons left nothing to chance, so details were very important to them. It's always been said here in Spain, and this is what the figure of the hare refers to in this case, since it's symbolically associated, among other things, with promiscuity: when you least expect it, the hare jumps out. Even the hunter knows this. The moral is that paying attention to details is always important, as is always being prepared for the unexpected.
That makes sense, the hare keeps everyone on their toes. At Siones, is it a single hare or the three hares circle motif? Also, where is it carved exactly in the church, and are there other animals nearby meant to give a similar warning to pilgrims?
In Siones, there are at least four hares: one is outside and can be seen in a photograph of a window, being chased by a dog. The other three are separate and hidden within the capitals of the apse. Although they are visible, they are, paradoxically, difficult to see unless you take a very close look at all the sculptures.
Four hares is wild. Are the three in the apse the classic three hares sharing ears, or just separate rabbits carved into foliage? If I stand facing the apse, should I look left, center, or right, and are they low or tucked high near the cornice? Do you think the dog chasing the hare has a moral reading, like the soul pursued by vice, or is it just a hunting scene?
Facing the apse, you should explore the sculptures on the capitals on the right. There you'll see the hares in different positions. I recommend that you look at the other accompanying representations, as their meanings also depend on the meaning of the rest of the group. The hare pursued by the dog could be interpreted, not only as a typical hunting scene, but also as virtue pursuing vice, as you rightly point out. This is the surprising thing about this Romanesque sculpture, which often lends itself to multiple interpretations.