Zephyros
Magistrate
Part I
According to the fourth-century account by Prudentius, Eulalia was “descended from one of the best families in Spain” and distinguished herself “from infancy” by “an admirable sweetness of temper, modesty, and devotion, a great love of the holy state of virginity, and by her seriousness and contempt of dress, ornaments, diversions, and worldly company.” In 304, when she was 12 (or in some accounts, 14), Eulalie suffered her martyrdom described like this: Dacian ordered that her body had be torn by iron hooks. Lighted torches were applied to her breasts and sides, fire was applied to her wounds to increase her sufferings and in this process her hair caught fire. She was asphyxiated by the smoke and flames, gaining the crown of martyrdom around the year 304. It is also said that when she was dead a dove flew out of Eulalia's mouth, to this many soldiers cowarded. Legend says that when she was thrown naked into the street, snow fell to cover her; later when her ashes were dumped in a field, snow fell on them to create a burial palls whiteness indicating her sainthood.
We know this scenario very well e.g. by John William Waterhouse - 1885 and many other artist …
In the ninth-century France, her (Eulalia’s) story has not progressed very far from Prudentius: her death is now formulaic (beheading), but the only torment described is being thrown into the flames. Other versions of the story place her in Barcelona and add to her torments. The Breviary of Martin of Aragon from 14th-century shows her crucified (Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris)
The fresco at her cathedral in Barcelona shows her beaten with rods, raked with hooks, doused with hot oil, crucified in the spread-eagle position, and finally crucified like Christ while being burned. Some elements of the standard virgin martyr narrative, however, are missing: there is no conflict with her family, no marriage or seduction attempt, and she is not beheaded.
Today, we know Eulalia of Merida and Eulalia of Barcelona, but I think they both are one and the same person … just differed by local legends … like Saint Julia … The martyrdom facts are very similar, too.
But there is one interesting fact in the history of the worship - especially in Barcelona – worship is now since the 7th century established with the hymn “Fulget hic honor”, “glory shines here” , the bishop of Barcelona Quiricus - he reigned 650 - is attributed. 877 was Eulalia’s - alleged - grave discovered her sarcophagus is on the same named cathedral in Barcelona.
Eulalia de Barcelona is mostly shown crucified, and there a lot of artworks displaying her on an X-shaped or later T-shaped cross.
More than 50 artists - some are unknown - arranged their working to Eulalia’s martyrdom, many of the antiques show her crucified … Here are some of my favorites
Back choir of the Cathedral of Barcelona
Project and realization: Bartolomé Ordóñez (1515–19) - Choir division (Catedral de Santa Creu, Barcelona, Spain) until his death. Then, Pedro Villar.
· Back choir of the Cathedral of Barcelona
· Flagelacion of St. Eulalia: Pedro Villar or Claudio Perret
· Crucifixion of St. Eulalia: Pedro Villar
Eulalia – now raised from the dead – displaying herself with recreated bosom … presenting her token, the X cross and flashing her breast
Crypt of Saint Eulalia (under the main altar), Cathedral of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
· Left main panel with the first scene, depicting the trial where Eulalia is condemned by the praeses Datianus
· Centre main panel with the second scene, depicting how Eulalia is martyred by whipping under the command of praeses Datianus
· Right main panel with the third scene, depicting Eulalia on the cross where her flesh is teared apart with hooks under the presence of praeses Datianus
All panels were created by an unknown sculptor from Pisa in the 14th century.
to be continued ...
According to the fourth-century account by Prudentius, Eulalia was “descended from one of the best families in Spain” and distinguished herself “from infancy” by “an admirable sweetness of temper, modesty, and devotion, a great love of the holy state of virginity, and by her seriousness and contempt of dress, ornaments, diversions, and worldly company.” In 304, when she was 12 (or in some accounts, 14), Eulalie suffered her martyrdom described like this: Dacian ordered that her body had be torn by iron hooks. Lighted torches were applied to her breasts and sides, fire was applied to her wounds to increase her sufferings and in this process her hair caught fire. She was asphyxiated by the smoke and flames, gaining the crown of martyrdom around the year 304. It is also said that when she was dead a dove flew out of Eulalia's mouth, to this many soldiers cowarded. Legend says that when she was thrown naked into the street, snow fell to cover her; later when her ashes were dumped in a field, snow fell on them to create a burial palls whiteness indicating her sainthood.
We know this scenario very well e.g. by John William Waterhouse - 1885 and many other artist …
In the ninth-century France, her (Eulalia’s) story has not progressed very far from Prudentius: her death is now formulaic (beheading), but the only torment described is being thrown into the flames. Other versions of the story place her in Barcelona and add to her torments. The Breviary of Martin of Aragon from 14th-century shows her crucified (Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris)
The fresco at her cathedral in Barcelona shows her beaten with rods, raked with hooks, doused with hot oil, crucified in the spread-eagle position, and finally crucified like Christ while being burned. Some elements of the standard virgin martyr narrative, however, are missing: there is no conflict with her family, no marriage or seduction attempt, and she is not beheaded.
Today, we know Eulalia of Merida and Eulalia of Barcelona, but I think they both are one and the same person … just differed by local legends … like Saint Julia … The martyrdom facts are very similar, too.
But there is one interesting fact in the history of the worship - especially in Barcelona – worship is now since the 7th century established with the hymn “Fulget hic honor”, “glory shines here” , the bishop of Barcelona Quiricus - he reigned 650 - is attributed. 877 was Eulalia’s - alleged - grave discovered her sarcophagus is on the same named cathedral in Barcelona.
Eulalia de Barcelona is mostly shown crucified, and there a lot of artworks displaying her on an X-shaped or later T-shaped cross.
More than 50 artists - some are unknown - arranged their working to Eulalia’s martyrdom, many of the antiques show her crucified … Here are some of my favorites
Back choir of the Cathedral of Barcelona
Project and realization: Bartolomé Ordóñez (1515–19) - Choir division (Catedral de Santa Creu, Barcelona, Spain) until his death. Then, Pedro Villar.
· Back choir of the Cathedral of Barcelona
· Flagelacion of St. Eulalia: Pedro Villar or Claudio Perret
· Crucifixion of St. Eulalia: Pedro Villar
Eulalia – now raised from the dead – displaying herself with recreated bosom … presenting her token, the X cross and flashing her breast
Crypt of Saint Eulalia (under the main altar), Cathedral of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
· Left main panel with the first scene, depicting the trial where Eulalia is condemned by the praeses Datianus
· Centre main panel with the second scene, depicting how Eulalia is martyred by whipping under the command of praeses Datianus
· Right main panel with the third scene, depicting Eulalia on the cross where her flesh is teared apart with hooks under the presence of praeses Datianus
All panels were created by an unknown sculptor from Pisa in the 14th century.
to be continued ...
