Cruceiro

Melide, Galicia, Spain

This is claimed to be the oldest cruceiro in Galicia. On the side shown here we see Christ in Majesty: hands raised, crowned, posed as if seated on a throne, and wearing a full-length vestment (close-up). The figure resembles the Christ in Majesty on the north tympanum at San Salvador in Sarria.

On the other side is a Crucifixion scene with imagery that came into vogue late in the 13th century. It was carved from the same block of stone as the front, suggesting that a sculptor of the 13th century or later chose to work from two different models, one in the newer style and the other more ancient.

Read more about crosses and crucifixes.

Photographed in Melide by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.