Saint James the Greater in History, Art and Culture
Saint James the Greater in History, Art and Culture by William Farina
English | March 12, 2018 | ISBN: 1476669171 | EPUB/PDF | 254 pages | 2.3/2 MB
English | March 12, 2018 | ISBN: 1476669171 | EPUB/PDF | 254 pages | 2.3/2 MB
Among the 12 disciples of Jesus, perhaps none has inspired more magnificent art–as well as political upheaval–than Saint James the Greater. Portrayed in the New Testament as part of Jesus' inner circle, he was the first apostle to be martyred. Eight centuries later, Saint James, or Santiago, become the de facto patron saint of Spain, believed to be a supernatural warrior who led the victorious Christian armies during the Iberian Reconquista. After 1492, the Santiago cult found its way to the New World, where it continued to exert influence.
Today, he remains the patron saint of pilgrims to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. His legacy has bequeathed a magnificent tradition of Western art over nearly two millennia.