history essay
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Introduction to Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
Designed by "Bernard the elder, a wonderful master", ‘The Cathedral of Santiago de
Compostela’ had stood more than 10 centuries in Galicia, a state in north-western Spain.
Being a blend of Romanesque,
Gothic & Baroque architecture
styles, the building itself was
named according to the name of
the former bishop, where
‘Santiago’ represents his name,
St. James, while ‘Compostela’
comes from a Latin word
“Campus Stellae”; meaning
‘burial ground’ as a euphemism.
The basilica was erected
approximately 818 A.D. during
the reign of Alfonso II, King of
Asturias after the tomb of
Apostle St. James was
accidentally discovered by
Bishop Teodomiro at a
miraculous spot.
Form & Shape of Cathedral
As said by unknown, (2010), the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was designed
to be in the shape of a Latin Cross, which is 97m long where the main purpose of its great
length is mainly to accommodate a large number of pilgrims at the same time as it is the end
of the pilgrimage routes in the world.
St. James The Greater, one of the apostle of Jesus Christ. Being a religious man, he is the most sincere person among the disciples of Jesus Christ.
Materials & methods of Construction
Numerous portions of these structures were made of stone and concrete producing it
to be highly preserved. Asian Romans’ concrete consist of lime water, sand and pozzolana.
Pozzolana is made up of volcanic ash, water and stone. Romans used to put these
ingredients in wooden frames so when it get harden it will be bonded to a facing of stone or
brick. These materials are very resistant since there are still roman structures standing more
than 2000 years.
Significance, function & purpose of building
Not only functioning as a monument for St. James the Greater, Santiago de
Compostela also acts as a major pilgrimage route since early Middle Ages. According to
UNESCO (n.d.), the existence of this particular cathedral is relatively significant as the
exemplary nature of this city of Christian pilgrimage which is enriched by the ideological
connotations of the Reconquista is echoed by the great spiritual significance of one of the
few places that are so deeply imbued with faith as to become sacred for the tile of humanity.
Besides, The Galician tomb placed in the cathedral had also been the symbol of the
resistance of Spanish Christians against Islam over a millennium since it was destroyed by
the Muslims at the end of the 10th century. Thus, the existence of Cathedral de Compostela
not only influenced the cultural believes of Galician, but also contribute to the alteration of
Spain’s history.
Reflection & Influence of building style to spirit time & place
The Cathedral itself consists of 3 architectural styles, which are Romanesque, Gothic
& Baroque where each of the styles reflects different spirit of time and place.
The Romanesque style is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterized by
semi-circular arches; for instance, ‘Portico de la Gloria’, functioned as the main entrance of
the cathedral was introduced during the 12th century when Romanesque was among the
most popular architecture style among the Galicians.
During the 13th century, the altar of the Santiago Cathedral was designed where
large pieces of windows were set into walls, admitting light through vast expanses of stained
glass. As referred to The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed (2012), Gothic
construction is characterized by lightness where the spiritual and mysterious quality of light
‘The Jambs’ - sculptures of famous musicians during that era carved on the column of ‘Portico de la Gloria’
Main ‘altar’ designed in Gothic style - located in the nave, exactly above the crypt; where the tomb of St. James was placed
contribute as an important element of the religious symbolism of Gothic cathedrals in the
medieval ages.
Finally in the 17th and 18th century, the architecture design was rather unique
compared to other styles; for instance, highly decorative details & ornaments can be found
on the Baroque extensions such as ‘the Holy Gate’ ("Puerta Santa") and the main facade of
the cathedral, ‘Façade del Obradoiro’. Furthermore, an abundancy of towers as well as
domes can be found on a Baroque building; taking the Santiago Cathedral as example, the
Bell Towers & ‘Tower de la Carraca’ were among the towers that were attached to the main
facade. From the design of the building in this era, we can see that the people were
becoming more attentive & thoughtful after so many centuries. The value of patience can be
seen not only in the designers, but also in the spirit of the Galicians.
Facade del Obradoiro- the main facade of Santiago Cathedral that is still standing in Galicia, Spain which was designed in the 17th century.
As conclusion, Santiago de Compostela is one of the cathedral in the Medieval which
went through several reconstruction in different era; hence, it is a blend of 3 different
architecture styles. The existence of this building is not only meant to be the place of
memorial of St. James The Greater, an apostle of Jesus Christ but also as the final
destination for Christians to complete their pilgrim. At present, the cathedral is still standing
as a famous church and tourist attraction that compose of different characteristics.
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