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Alfama district, Lisbon, Portugal -- white buildings, tiled rooftops, bright blue water of the Rio Tejo. This area has been continuously inhabited in "modern times" for more than 2500 years.
Lisbon during a frightening time: the Second Crusade and the Great Siege of 1147 A.D. -- 868 years later, it still resonates. In this 1917 picture by Roque Gameiro from Quadros da História de Portugal, the Moorish defenses are situated on the heights, where all the other pictures featured in this post emanate from. The Crusaders broke their surrender guarantee to the defenders as soon as the gates were opened. Shudder at the thought of what followed.
Close-up of Saint Lucy tiled on an outer wall of the Igreja de Santa Luzia e São Brás, Lisboa, of the Order of Malta. Besides her halo, notice her extra pair of eyes displayed on a plate in her left hand.
Lucy = Light, a sight seen round the world, as far north as Sweden, as far-flung as Dallas, Texas and St. Clair Shores, Michigan, over in the Philippines, yonder in Manhattan -- maybe even on Mars at this point. Santa Lucia is a mystery without end.
Another tiled scene, here a close-up depiction of the 1147 A.D. fighting between Moorish defenders and attacking Crusaders.
Igreja de Santa Luzia e São Brás in the year 2015 A.D., in the month of June (Junho in Portuguese). A more peaceful vibe these days.
Today's Rune: Wholeness.
3 comments:
Having never been to Europe (or having desire to go) why the extra set of eyes, was St Lucy hungry or a schoolteacher?
Oh wow, gorgeous. Such charm
Beautiful and fascinating! I wonder if St. Lucy's plate of eyes was the inspiration for the Pan's Labyrinth character?
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