Peter’s release from prison

The narrative follows the text of the Acts of the Apostles. On the south side King Herod is magnificently enthroned in his palace, in front of which an archway supported by a corkscrew column and capital can be recognized. He gives the order to throw Peter into prison. The apostle standing before him is being led away by a soldier. On the east side Peter, with visibly fettered feet, is sitting in his prison, a splayed aedicule. An angel is flying almost horizontally out of the clouds and stretches out his hands, so that Peter may follow him. On the north side three soldiers are sleeping behind their shields. On the west side an angel is standing below the console block; one of his outspread wings is placed protectively behind Peter’s back. The apostle stands before the city gate and holds a scroll inscribed with the letters […]A/SA/[…]E. According to E. Rupin, this is an abbreviated reference to the apostle’s declara- tion at the time of his release from prison: “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod”. The sculptor excels here in his ability to express movement and describe genre details with extreme subtlety and care (as in Herod’s throne, the city gate, the chains on Peter’s feet). The same hand can be recognized in capitals S10MS10, S11MS11, S12MS12, S14MS14, S15MS15 and S16MS16. This capital also forms part of a work group devoted to the prince of the apostles, together with E02MS20 (martyrdom) and the adjacent corner pillar. The bevelled frieze of the impost block is decorated with pairs of small naked devils engaged in a round dance; their backwards-swivelled heads bite their own shoulders. The upper cornice of the impost is adorned, in turn, with a pseudo-Kufic-inspired frieze consisting of small symmetrically paired curls.
Rupin, Ernest, L'abbaye et les cloîtres de Moissac, Paris 1897, Nr. 19, p. 241-243

Herod devil Peter release angel soldier prison throne inscription Kufic pseudo-Kufic A SA E