Difference between revisions of "Snake in Nuestra Senora del Rivero, San Esteban de Gormaz, Spain"

Latest revision as of 13:50, 14 December 2011

Snake

Snake in the right capital of the main portal, beginning of the 12th century.

Snake.
Right Capital of the Main Portal,Nuestra Señora del Rivero, San Esteban de Gormaz, Spain.
Beginning of the 12th century.
Carved stone.
Soria (Spain).

Description

This snake is located in a capital from the main portal, placed in the south side of the temple. In contrast to the sculpture from the open gallery, which is dated towards the middle of the 12th century, these figures are said to be dated from the beginning of that century.

The animal is a pearly reptile which is rather well carved; in fact, it even has a great bulkiness. The snake is intertwined around a bird that is being seized on the snake's mouth, in addition there is an eagle located in the opposite capital from the same main portal.

Here we can interpret the snake, as it occurs in almost every Romanesque artwork, as a symbol of the Devil. This is because traditionally this animal has been considered as its demoniacal incarnation; therefore, a symbol of evil and sin. It is possible that the presence of Evil in the entrance of the temple would be related to a warning message for the worshipers.

Bibliography

• ÁLVAREZ TERÁN, Concepción y GONZÁLEZ TEJERINA, Mercedes, “Las iglesias románicas de San Esteban de Gormaz”, Boletín del Seminario de Estudios de Arte y Arqueología, III (1935), 299-330.
• ARTIGAS Y COROMINAS, Pelayo, “Por tierras de Gesta. San Esteban de Gormaz. I. Breve noticia histórica”, Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Excursiones, XXXIX (1931), 139-154.
• ________,“Por tierras de Gesta. San Esteban de Gormaz. Iii. Idea de sus monumentos y de sus principales fundaciones”, Boletín de la Sociedad Española de Excursiones, XI (1932), 221-235.
• GAYA NUÑO, Juan Antonio, El románico en la provincia de Soria. Madrid: CSIC, 1946.
• ORTEGO Y FRÍAS, Teógenes, “En torno al románico de San Esteban de Gormaz. Una fecha y dos artífices desconocidos”, Celtiberia, 13 (1957), 79-103.
• HERNANDO GARRIDO, José Luis, “San Esteban de Gormaz” en GARCÍA GUINEA, Miguel Ángel y PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ, José María (dir.), Enciclopedia del Románico en Castilla y León. Soria II. Aguilar de Campoo: Fundación Santa María la Real – Centro de estudios del Románico, 2002.

Author

Diana Olivares Martínez