One of the most spectacular and interesting Asturian councils, is this one of Teverga. Neighbor of other no less spectacular councils, like Quirós, Proaza or Santo Adriano, does not keep only an indómita and splendid nature, crossed by the denominated Path of the Bear, that leaves from the vicinity of Tuñón and every summer it attracts more hikers, but that also guards a long, ancient history not entirely known, among which are some artistic gems of the first magnitude, which are well worth a long, and if possible, deep visit.

Of them, the Church of Santa María, in Villanueva de Teverga, deserves special attention, above all considerations, and this authentic cultural puzzle that is the Collegiate Church of San Pedro, located in the town of San Martín, located approximately two or three kilometers scarce from the previous one.

It is not a trivial matter to talk about puzzles or cultural puzzles, when defining the elements, mostly foreign, that define the architectonic framework of the place, granting it, by the way, legendary characters much older than what could be imagined in A beginning.

From the pre-Romanesque period (1), without a doubt, they are the formidable capitals that, like Herculean colossus, support an authentic mountain of stone, carved and placed in different periods. Because of their length, they suggest a certain similarity with those others that can be seen in the crypt of the Navarrese monastery of Leire.

However, and unlike it, the reasons for whose work are based, essentially, foliaceous or vegetable universes, the elements carved on the capitals of this collegiate church of San Pedro, make up an authentic sample, philosophical and anthropological, offering a varied and at the same time detailed cultural and cultural mosaic - let's not forget - about a people, the Asturian, always reluctant to abandon many of their old pre-Christian customs.

While outside the corbels offer us a detailed idea of the region's native fauna - the heads of wolf, fox, bear and ox, for example, living with a wide range of cervids, some of whose species are possibly extinct in Currently, the capitals of the interior complement a cosmogonic vision of their own, where rites and myths, uses and beliefs coexist, whose centripetal axis is located in the expressive and descriptive faculty of the artist.

In such a way, it draws attention, for example, to observe the figure of a hero and a servant with his oxen, and between the two of them, the significant presence of a short sword or falcata, perfectly defined. Ecclesial and earthly power; the priest and the servant who, in another descriptive moment, becomes a villainous knight; or what is the same, has weapons and horses to go to the call of his king to fight the enemy, presumably Muslim.

But not only are fixing by Nature and her moods as a role model, but also to bear in mind, coexistence on the stone at least two antagonistic forms of spirituality: the Christian and animist and pagan. We can perceive it in another one of the capitals, that does not have any waste, in whose center the figure of Christ with the donkey of Balaam and a sun is observed. Remember the symbolism added to this noble animal that, together with the figure of the horse, fulfills chthonic functions while being, at the same time, vehicle of Knowledge.

However, the interesting lies on either side of FIG Christ, in these two human representations that define the mentioned spiritual conceptions, in the figures of the Christian Priest and a probable Pagan officiant coated with a bear skin.
The saint, with the characteristic palm leaves and the serpent are also present; as this is, on both sides of the ship, the family crest of Miranda, who plays with her maidens, legend, common to many peninsular Christian areas, maidens Tribute (2).

More mysteries await, no doubt, in this ark stone filled with bits of history. One of the most attractive, is located behind the altar, in the enigmatic Christ. A Christ, probably of the fourteenth century, called the Reliquary, because during a restoration was discovered at the nape a box that contained sand; sand that, when analyzed, was determined to have come from Jerusalem. In his right hand, he lacks a finger, so it can be assumed that he was mocked at some time as a souvenir or relic.

Even in lamentable conditions of conservation, the cloister also offers some dispersed, but interesting elements, belonging to different eras and styles. Pre-Romanesque could be, for example, that fleur-de-lis - remember that, according to the Book of Kings, Solomon ordered to place precisely a fleur-de-lis in the middle of the columns Jakim and Boaz, in the model of the models of the Temples, which bears his name- and a gentleman, who perhaps denote a Frankish origin.

Destacable, likewise, is the presence of the so-called green, dark, esoteric men, and at the same time guardians of an archaic tradition.

Finally, add that in a room attached to the cloister, a small museum, wonder with the sight of a Romanesque capital, of unknown origin -stands a Madonna and Child sculpted with great quality in the stone-, part of the jewels donated by Doña Urraca, or frightened, with the vision of the incorrupt corpses of Pedro Analso de Miranda, abbot of the Collegiate, bishop of Teruel, inquisitor and advisor to King Felipe V, and of his father, the second Marquess of Valdecarzana, about whom they pray tenebrous legends.

Notes, References and Bibliography:

(1) The capitals are not native to the place, but belonged to the church of a nearby, unpopulated town, whose reference the guard did not know or did not want to give us during the visit.
(2) Another of the places where this theme is most deeply rooted is in Carrión de los Condes, on the Camino Jacobeo. In Villalcázar de Sirga, in the old hospital of the Templars, now converted into a restaurant, there is a vintage painting that represents the aforementioned.

NOTICE: Originally published in my blog ROMÁNICA, ENIGMAS DEL ROMÁNICO ESPAÑOL. Both the text and the photographs that accompany it are my exclusive intellectual property. The original entry, where you can check the authorship of juancar347, can be found at the following address: https://juancar347-romanica.blogspot.com/2011/10/san-martin-de-teverga-colegiata-de-san. html

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[Martial, latin poet]

Ars vtinam more Animvm qve effingere. Posses pulchrior in ter. Ris nvlla tabella foret.

Arte Ojala pudieras representar. el carácter y el espíritu. No habría sobre la tierra. Imagen más bella

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