The month of February in the Cathedral Mosaic

A woman is busy preparing a meal (a cauldron hangs from a hook beside her) and cooking a pig skewered on a spit

A woman is busy preparing a meal (a cauldron hangs from a hook beside her) and cooking a pig skewered on a spit. The depiction of February is accompanied by the zodiac sign of Aquarius, represented by a winged male figure carrying a large amphora, tilted and held in both hands.

The depiction of February refers to the harsh climate of the period, which forced farmers to abandon specific tasks in the fields to devote themselves to more comforting "household" activities, as is the case in the iconography of most Italian and European calendars and month cycles. Often, in fact, the image is of men or women sitting by the fire, intent on warming themselves; In some cases, set outdoors, the depicted activity refers to tree pruning, wood cutting, snake hunting (once they have emerged from their winter hibernation), or fishing. It's curious that the latter option wasn't chosen here in Otranto, given the city's deep connection with maritime work and the winter climate, which is unlike that of Northern and Central Europe.

From: MondiMedievali.it