Moderator
Dr. Dan Di Domizio
Location
Room B
Start Date
1-4-2017 11:00 AM
End Date
1-4-2017 12:00 PM
Abstract
The tympanum above the south door of the Basilica de San Isidoro is a fascinating piece of Reconquest iconography in Spain from the 11th century. The date of the tympanum has been debated and though no specific date has been attributed, John Williams offers an intriguing answer by analyzing the iconography presented in his work Generationes Abrahae: Reconquest Iconography in Leon. The church was rededicated to St. Isidore of Seville in 1063 and the date of the south doorway is attributed to around 1100, within the reign of Alfonso VI (d.1109) when the Reconquest entered its most aggressive period. Williams argues the tympanum affirmed the righteous action and victory of the Christian Reconquest of Europe at the time, through the support of established theological iconography. Specifically the conflict between the descendants of Ismael and Isaac. Muslim tradition supported that it was actually Ismael who had accompanied Abraham to Mt. Moriah thus becoming the religion validated by God. Medievalists also referred to the Muslims as Ishmaelite’s and accordingly Ismael in the tympanum is shown wearing a turban and ridding in the Muslim style of the time. The iconography in the tympanum further supports the typological view that the Old prefigures the New Testament, by clearly establishing Isaac as prefiguring Christ in Abraham’s sacrifice, and Ismael as a pretender to the faith, the arrow he prepares to fire is in fact in line with the Lamb of God. The placement above the main entrance to the basilica and the reversal of the traditional values of left and right illustrates its intention to be seen and interpreted by the viewer. This paper will survey the scholarly literature on the Basilica de San Isidoro that was published after Williams' 1977 piece and address those that question whether other factors might be relevant to the interpretation of the tympanum, specifically the possible patronage of Uracca of Zamora (d.1101), the sister of Alfonso VI.
A Study of the Basilica de San Isidoro, Leon
Room B
The tympanum above the south door of the Basilica de San Isidoro is a fascinating piece of Reconquest iconography in Spain from the 11th century. The date of the tympanum has been debated and though no specific date has been attributed, John Williams offers an intriguing answer by analyzing the iconography presented in his work Generationes Abrahae: Reconquest Iconography in Leon. The church was rededicated to St. Isidore of Seville in 1063 and the date of the south doorway is attributed to around 1100, within the reign of Alfonso VI (d.1109) when the Reconquest entered its most aggressive period. Williams argues the tympanum affirmed the righteous action and victory of the Christian Reconquest of Europe at the time, through the support of established theological iconography. Specifically the conflict between the descendants of Ismael and Isaac. Muslim tradition supported that it was actually Ismael who had accompanied Abraham to Mt. Moriah thus becoming the religion validated by God. Medievalists also referred to the Muslims as Ishmaelite’s and accordingly Ismael in the tympanum is shown wearing a turban and ridding in the Muslim style of the time. The iconography in the tympanum further supports the typological view that the Old prefigures the New Testament, by clearly establishing Isaac as prefiguring Christ in Abraham’s sacrifice, and Ismael as a pretender to the faith, the arrow he prepares to fire is in fact in line with the Lamb of God. The placement above the main entrance to the basilica and the reversal of the traditional values of left and right illustrates its intention to be seen and interpreted by the viewer. This paper will survey the scholarly literature on the Basilica de San Isidoro that was published after Williams' 1977 piece and address those that question whether other factors might be relevant to the interpretation of the tympanum, specifically the possible patronage of Uracca of Zamora (d.1101), the sister of Alfonso VI.
