The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-08-23

inoio"' III .nls part OF Spain, but are
now SO nearly extinct that Gil de Avila,
writing three hundred years ago, said
that nearly sixty-three Toros were left
in CASTLE. Some authors believe them
to have been the gods Of the primitive
inhabitants, placed, like the sphinxes
near Asiatic temples; while others
contend that they served merely as
landmarks. The Roman inscriptions on
most OF them are probably of much
later date than the original chiselling,
and owing to mutilations by time and
men it requires lively imagination to
trace in them likeness to anything in
the animal kingdom.
The most interesting objects in Avila
are its wonderful medieval churches.
beginning with San Vicente. founded
IN the year313. 1t contains thirteenth
century shrine of Saint Vincent,-not
the famous deacon of Zaragoza. but
another OF the same name, who was
also martyred under Dacien, because
he stamped upon an altar of Jupiter
and left thereon the marks of his foot.
Tradition says that his body was guard
ed by serpent, which attacked rich
Jew who came to mock at it, and never
let go the Hebrew until he had vowed
to build this church if he escaped with
his life. Soon as the vow was made
the serpent glided quietly back to the
corpse and stretched himself alongside:
and here stands the church, to this day
a living proof of the story. so the
Spanish guide will tell you Near by is
a singular hole in the ground out of
which the snake is said to have come.
Until within the last half century, this
hole, like the celebrated Baeca de la
Verita, at Rome, was a sacred spot of
adjuration; he who took an oath putting
his hand into it, instead of on a Bible,
SO that the immortal snake might bite
him if he swore falsely.
The great cathedral, dedicated to San
Sebastian, as late as the year 1907, is
exceedingly curious, being more than
half fortress. Its eastern apse, pro-
jecting over the city WALL is machicolat-
ed and fortified like castle. In its high
tower storks have nested since time out
of mind Looking up at any time of
day you see them standing silent and
motionless on top of its pinnacles,
their white plumage glittering against
l., Il IL III IL
to be carven ornaments, you are a
startled to see one move as II the tower
itself were taking flight. The cathedral
interior is very solemn and impressive,
with tall, dark gothic arches and very
large windows, of which the upper lights
only are glazed The Reliable of the
high altar Cof the time of Ferdinand
and Isabellal, is the oldest thing have
ever seen. 1t is divided into three
panels, three stages in height, painted
by master-artists who returned to dust
many centuries ago. The lowest stage
represents st. Peter and St Paul, sur
rounded 10y eight evangelists. The
second stage sets forth the Transtig-
uration, the Annunciation, the Nativ-
ity, the Alteration of the Magi, and
the Presentation in the Temple: while
the third stage is gruesome with the
CrucifiXion, the Scourging, the Agony,
the Descent into Hell, and the Trans
tiguration. These pictures are among
the oldest and most venerated in Spain,
and all ale framed in richly carved
woodwork. The choir is equally quaint.
with reliefs of saints and scenes of
martyrdoms. all beautifully carved and
adorned with delicate arabesques.
Two iron-gilt pulpits are wonderful
18th century and others are of alabas-
ter and marble covered with carvings.
The whole vast building is crowded
with statues, big and little as to size,
good bad and Indifferent as works of
art. At the entrance you are confront
ed by Notwithstanding mace-bearers,
i'll granite, and other disreputable
figures are perched securely in the
JanlD OF each doorway. SdlulS dIe every
where, life size and colossal, standing
on the affairs and in hundreds of
Picturesque inches. In the tympanum
magnificent Ecce Homo appears, in
the midst of sculptures and terra Gotta
figures setting forth the Betrayal, the
Last Supper, the Cross Bearing, the
| Crucifxion, the Coronation of the Vir-
gin, the flight into Egypt, and scriptural
scenes without number. You might
spend days in this sanctuary, constant
ly finding new objects of interest-old
paintings in dark corners, curious
church plate, from the eleventh century
down, and ancient tombs in shadowy
chapels. Among the most beautiful
sepulchres is that of the learned Alfonso
Tostado de Madrigal, who was Bishop
of Avila in 145O and considered the
Solomon of his day His etfgy carved
in alabaster, represents the prelate in
act of writing, which was the joy and
business of his earthly existence; and
| l. al, {a1 bn% l,o 70