Madrid Archaeology Museum - Christian Medieval Period

 

Today we got to see the Medieval Christianity exhibit in the Madrid Archaeology Museum! It was really cool to be able to see how similar we still are in our worship but also notice the differences and how we have become more modernized. I loved how beautiful everything that we saw was. I felt the care that each piece had been made with. With the two pieces I am pictured with, you can very much see the beauty of religious art. The paneled altarpiece depicts Saint Martin and scenes from Christ's life. The colors used are rich and deep, and there is even gold embossing (I think) which adds to the overall beauty of the piece. The crucifix belonged to the monarchs Ferdinand and Sancha, and "is one of the most important examples of Romanesque art carved from ivory." It is apparent at first glance that these people cared deeply about their religion and the work that they created based off of it.

This art is important because it teaches us so much about how people in medieval times worshipped and gives us insight into their lives. We learn about their culture and the values that they had. To understand the late middle ages you have to understand that the Catholic church permeated everything. The layout of the city was based on the churches and there was great importance placed on the beauty of the churches and the art housed within them. Another thing that the exhibit talked about is the diversity that became characteristic of medieval cities, but also the similarities between them of a general expansion and enrichment due to trade and population growth. 

Art, religion, and diversity are such a big part of what makes a city a cultural capital. They give a city legitimacy and something that they can take pride in. The art that comes from this medieval period in Spain is breathtaking and shows us how spirituality and religion can intertwine and create something beautiful. This time period also left behind a vast cultural landscape because of its religion. Churches, sculptures, and artwork from Christianity during this time offer invaluable insight. The diversity that enriched this city can also be traced back to medieval times and now continues to grow with tourism. In this way we can see how Medieval Christianity enriched the culture of Madrid and gave it a strong foundation to become the cultural capital that it is.