Linked to the theme of the Dolmens and menhirs, we'll see what happens with the construction of the temples, churches and cathedrals in the city, and the urban issue is vital importance from the time before the Romans, when the Phoenicians reached the shores, and when the laietans lived near Mont Táber or the Montjuic. Consider some topics such as the following: temples and layetanas and Phoenician necropolis, Ilu goddess Barcino, Romans and its Necropolis, Emperor Augustus (Vitruvius, Virgil, Decamunus, Temple locations - Ostia city), the Vesica Piscis, Fortifications (Veabun, pentagons, ciutadella), Ildefons Cerda, the 1888 Universal Exposition, and the 1929 Universal Exposition.
We'll start time talking about the Church of Santa María del Mar.

We read in a book of 1878 that the Church of Santa Maria del Mar is one of the oldest in the city, where tradition says they found the remains of Santa Eulalia, the former patron saint of Barcelona until 1687 (and now the patron saint is Santa Mercé), and possibly the Principality of Catalonia, a sixteenth-century chronicler ascribes its foundation to the Goths (we know it was built by the architect Berenguer de Montagut and his assistant Ramon Despuig, and was the temple of shipowners and merchants of Barcelona's Gothic), and another more recent chronicler tells us that the early church called Santa Maria de las Arenas (Santa Maria de Les Arenes), by being situated on the same coast, and that built on the remains of a former Roman temple dedicated to Minerva (Menrva [Etruscans] = Minerva [Roman] = Athena [Greek]).

Santa María del Mar Temple, in Barcelona

Then talks about the recent history by many known, began its construction year 1329, which was completed in 1377, all of Catalan Gothic style, consisting of three large ships, separated by large pillars Octogonales to claim 19 arches and high domes and its around has 33 devoted to the cult chapels. Striking number 33 of sacred shrines (grade higher in the masonry of the old Scottish Rite and accepted, and age of Jesus Christ to die on the cross), and referenced in the writing of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Minerva, being that probably was not dedicated to it, but it rather to Venus, the Roman, also known as Isthar in Mesopotamia, Astarte Phoenicians, or rather, being those reminiscent of the Egyptian ISIS goddess. We will see as there is a subtle thread that unites the Venus, Ilu, deity worship and fits with the famous legend of the former patron of Barcelona, and sailors, Santa Eulalia. In the prehistoric, since it was discovered the year 1908 call Venus of Willendorf, are called 'Paleolithic Venus' to the small rounded female sculptures. Deity represented real name is unknown, the obvious contrast between these cult figures obese and fertile and the classical concept of Venus has been increased resistance to terminology. Venus became a popular subject in painting and sculpture of the European Renaissance. As a classical figure whose natural state nudity, was socially acceptable represent her without clothes. As the goddess of sexual health, degree of erotic beauty in his portraits was justified. The legend of Tannhaüsser, medieval Germany is an interesting vestige of the myth of Venus to survive long after that his cult was banished by Christianity (this legend we can see a painting by John Collier, 1901, call 'Tannhäuser in the Venusberg', which represents a goddess Venus, together with another year 1885, to much like John William Waterhouse painting shows Santa Eulalia).

Painting of John Collier (1901),'Tannhäuser in the Venusberg'


Painting of John William Waterhouse (1885), 'Saint Eulalia', England, London, Tate Gallery

Remember that Venus is also associated with other myths as the myth of Eurinome, with the mother of all the things that has emerged from the initial chaos, or the goddess Cybele, Asia minor, or Aphrodite in Greece, which arose between the waves as naked and beautiful as is looking, and the sea becomes the birthplace of the goddess and so in its main sanctuary in Paphos Cyprus current, the priestesses ritually bañaran into the Sea close as a remembrance of his birth. Add as intrinsic data, Aphrodite, who is the one who breaks soon to fly through the skies, and he does together with the sparrows and pigeons, which are, among others, their symbolic animals (such as geese, we can see in remembering Santa Eulalia, in the Cathedral of Barcelona). Recall also the myth of Cybele, about V century BC, tells us about the oracle of Sybil, who spoke through the voices of the birds in their sanctuary, and the history of Santa Eulalia, as is known, is that it was a woman who lived between the ages III - IV AD, virgin and that at the age of 13 years died martyred in a double cross, the tradition says that the death of people saw a white dove flying through the air, so Santa which also became the patron of birds, and it's like in the myth of Cibeles, now remembered with the geese, pigeons and pheasants that can be seen in the cathedral of Barcelona (as well as in the town of Lugo). Also briefly mention the lover of Cybele in Greek mythology, the god-man or Attis Attis, who went mad by the goddess Cybele and castrated the same (remembering that the myth of OSIRIS of Egyptian mythology), this semi-god came Phrygia, Anatolia in Turkey today. In art he is represented with a Phrygian cap, and here it is noteworthy that the Phrygian cap has been for a very long time one of the symbols of the Masonic fraternity, this represented the ancient god Mithras of Iranian mythology, in Roman times pileus called him, and was distinctive of the freedmen, was used symbolically by the murderers of Julius Caesar, and during the U.S. Independence and the French Revolution, was used as a symbol of Liberty, currently appears in several coats of American nations in an ancient mosaic can see the three wise men carry in their heads, however, the use of the hat in Masonry is one of the most mysterious of the dress fittings, their use has been common among builders of antiquity, like the apron and gloves, the first for protection from the elements, and the other to cover the sharp rocks in a quarry. During a ritual, usually the official who cover their heads because it is the receptacle of the life force, the Crown Chakra is the Supreme, so what are kings crown. In ancient Rome, the Phrygians had released a hat, so depicts a Liberty in the ancient mysteries of Eleusis, the place a Phrygian cap, an initiate was told "Get this hat is a symbol more valuable than any royal crown . Just to mention one more fact about the use of the hat is that is used by Jews (Kipha cap), which is placed at the age of 13 years where he began reading the Torah, the Catholicism of the priests to use the tiara , and the bishops the bonnet, in short: The cap prevents the teacher to lose energy and keep your ability to radiate their light and knowledge. Finally to the Phrygian god Attis can also find traces of her cult in Barcelona, since recently in the year 2000 was found a relief of Attis in the ancient wall of Barcino, dated in the first half of the 1st century BC, and according to experts the cult of Cybele and Attis is present from the moment of Foundation of Barcino, by Emperor Augustus in the 1st century BC. The found relief has the Ciutat de Barcelona MHCB-7844, Museu d ' Història code for those who want to investigate more about this archaeological part. Mention also that the date of Cybele with the resurrection of Attis, matches on March 25, which is when the spring equinox occurs. Found remnants of the cult to Attis at Tarraco, current Tarragona, and even in Córdoba, to the South of Spain. We can see on the other hand the representation of the Virgin in the Church of Santa María del Mar, which is represented with a boat to his feet, symbol of the Virgin sands or sea of sailors, but also is important to note that the goddess ISIS Egyptian you is also with a boat, also the goddess Ishtar in Assyrian tablets. The ceremony in ancient Egypt was celebrated in a Bush, and Isis boat was carried by the priests in procession, and ate marked signed Ankh cross buns. Also note the use of the symbology of the Pedro boat in the Catholic Church, the symbol of the Church, the ships of the churches take the form of an inverted ship hull and then appears as a kind of celestial navigation instrument. Finally also mention that according to Vitruvius, the temples both Jupiter (We'll see some vestiges of the cult of Jupiter on the Montjuic), asVenus should be prepared outside the city walls, and in this case along the lines of Vitruvius, the temple to Venus should be lookingthe sea, left the walls of Barcino, is located where once the Roman Temple of Santa Maria de Las Arenas, and where they haveAccording to tradition found the remains of Santa Eulalia, where some writers speak of a much more ancient temple dedicated to Venus in this case, orAstarte by the Phoenicians, that at some point in history reached the coast of Barcelona, and most likely have placed their temple to the goddesswhere today stands the majestic church of Santa Maria del Mar.

| 06.12.2011 |