Symbolism of the dog on the Altos de Perdon

[William Garza]

I have a idea..just wondering if you would throw in?

 

[Rick M]

Feels a bit like a trap William, but I guess I'll blunder in anyway......

Ever has the dog traveled with men, their faithful companions. The dog knows not where we are going, or why; he follows the lead of his Master alone in an act of complete loyalty and devotion. On the Camino, all men are like the dog, knowing only that we proceed West - uncertain of where our path may take us or what awaits us there. We trust in the Master to know these things for us..........

Or maybe, the artist had a piece of sheet metal left over too small to make a man or horse out of.

 

[William Garza]

No traps intended..that was Beautiful!

 

[Felipe]

Well...just to share some ideas, for the fun of it:
The dog was the symbol of the Dominican order, because they considered themselves "guardian dogs of the faith". It appears frequently in the facades of churches...but this does not seem as particularly related to Camino.
In prehispanic Mexico it was believed that dogs (the hairless "xoloitzcuintle" race) carried the soul of their masters to cross rivers in their long and dangerous way to heaven.

That seems mor akin to the idea of pilgrimages, but I doubt that the sculptor Vicente Galbete was familiar with the myth.
And, sometimes, a dog is just a dog, a friendly and happy companion. But I am waiting for your idea.

 

[William Garza]

Its funny
The dog you mentioned? Is a old old breed,that followed someone here..it is not a very..uhmmm..picturesque dog..and is identified as the chupacabra...
But that is diversion

 

[SYates]

An old German proverb, but might be appropriate:

Der Hund blieb mir im Sturme treu, der Mensch nicht mal im Winde.

The dog stayed faithful during a storm, humans not even during a breeze.

Buen Camino de la Vida, SY

 

[JillGat]

San Roque is often portrayed in churches with a dog. The story is that he was kicked out of town because he had leprosy and the dog brought bread to him, saving his life. Roque was also the patron saint during the plague, but I don't think they knew at the time that the dog may have been carrying the fleas that spread it!

 

[SYates]

S... but I don't think they knew at the time that the dog may have been carrying the fleas that spread it!

Actually, according to Camus it were 'rat fleas' not dog fleas ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[JillGat]

Actually, according to Camus it were 'rat fleas' not dog fleas ;-) Buen Camino, SY

Fleas are fleas. We have plague in New Mexico every year and people catch it from their pets' fleas (usually originally from prairie dogs)

 

[Bogong]

When God made the earth and sky, flowers and the trees, He then made all the animals, the birds and the bees,
When His work was finished, not one was quite the same, He said "I'll walk this earth of mine and give you all a name"
And so He travelled land and sea, and everywhere He went, a little creature followed Him until its strength was spent,
When all were named upon the earth and in the sky and sea, the little creature said "Dear Lord there's no one left for me"
The Father smiled and softly said " I've left you till the end. I'll turn my own name back to front and call you "dog" my friend"

Anon

De colores

Bogong

 

[William Garza]

I love your answer! All this beauty

 

[Lisa HS]

I've always loved this.

 

[William Garza]

I wonder if an allegory is there...

We walk on in a sort of faith... Or is it an instict...that maybe if we remain faithfull to the drive and go onward that there will be an inner answer as to...why.
We are drawn toward Santiago

Some may walk in faith
Some follow something else

The dog symbolises Faithfullness in classical art i think and makes me wonder-ish...if the sculpter didnt infer this?

The Altos de Perdon...mayhap if we go on to Santiago we may find it...