On July 15, we visited Santiago de Compostela. The city is home to the most famous cathedral in Spain. It is also the third most popular pilgrimage in the Christian world after Rome and Jerusalem. Every year, thousands of pilgrims (ranging from religious zealots to agnostic adventurers) travel along the approximately 800 kilometer Camino de Santiago to visit the cathedral which is home to the tomb of the Apostle James (Santiago). Although there are numerous variations of the route, the most popular starts in France, crosses the Pyrenees Mountains, and follows the northern coast of Spain to the city of Santiago. According to legend, this was the path followed by James in his missionary journeys after the Savior´s death. After 
his own death, James´disciples supposedly transported his body back to Spain and buried it in a secret sepulcre at the site where the cathedral now stands. Below the cathedral, a golden coffin holds the purported remains of the apostle.
his own death, James´disciples supposedly transported his body back to Spain and buried it in a secret sepulcre at the site where the cathedral now stands. Below the cathedral, a golden coffin holds the purported remains of the apostle. Shortly after the tomb´s discovery, during the Reconquista, an army of Christian soldiers was waging an important battle against the Moors. Things were looking bad for the Christians until, according to many eyewitnesses, a knight appeared on a white horse carrying a white standard with a red cross. The knight led a charge against the Moors, reviving the flagging spirits of the Christian soldiers and leading them to victory. After the knight disappeared, the leaders of the Christian army determined that the knight was the Apostle James himself. Ever since then, James has been the patron saint of Spain and has carried the nickname ¨Matamoros" - the Moor slayer. He became the symbol of the Reconquista and the Pope himself ordained the site of the tomb as a sacred spot - thus its fame.
Well, I hope you´re enjoying the history lessons. I find them extra fascinating because they apply to both Spanish and History. Until next time... Hasta luego.
Brad
Well, I hope you´re enjoying the history lessons. I find them extra fascinating because they apply to both Spanish and History. Until next time... Hasta luego.
Brad
4 comments:
Brad, you might be interested to know that Jacob the fisherman evolved into the archetypal hero of Western culture. From Sant’ Iago Matamoros (killer of the Moors) to Sant’ Iago Mataindios (killer of Indians) to - wait for it!... Sant’ Iago Mataespañois (killer of Spaniards) – everyone wanted him as their hero!
In Mexico City there is a carving from the altarpiece of the Church of Santiago Tlatelolco showing him as Santiago Mataindios - the Indian-slayer.
And although Christianity and the Catholic religion were taken to the Americas by the Spaniards, when Mexico fought to obtain its independence from Spain in 1810, Sant’ Iago was exalted as Santiago Mataespañois - the slayer of Spaniards!
In Peru, during an indigenous uprising in 19th-century they adopted Santiago
as its champion, using the "Matamoros" iconography of “Santiago Mataespañois” that in Peru had come to be associated with a pre-Columbian deity who drove out evil forces.
There is a mid-19thC silver statue of Santiago Mataespañois in the Museum of Pilgrimages in Santiago de Compostela.
http://www.aug.edu/augusta/iconography/spain2005/mataespanoisSantiago.html
and another one – scroll down to under Ano 1998 - (as well as pictures of items from the museum) here:
http://www.mdperegrinacions.com/paxinas/historia.html
You can see the altarpiece of Santiago Mataindios here (click on the photo to enlarge it)
http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art454L-03-TlatelolcoXochimilc/I00004.html
You can see paintings of Santiago Matamoros and Mataindios together here:
http://www.huancainos.com/literatura/babelandes.htm
Interesting. I couldn't find the websites though - the first two both said "Website not found"
Okay, I was finally able to access the sites. It's interesting how legends evolve over time - and how to interpret the gray area between legend and history.
Yes, we all need a hero and there aren't that many to go around so we just re-invent the old ones! I do wonder though, why so many of us are prepared to give up the comfort of our homes and all that is familiar to trudge 1000kms to the tomb of a Mata-hero!!
Pilgrim greetings,
Sil
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