The Colossus of Pedralva, Guimarães
September 18, 2017
If you visit Guimarães, you may find the Colossus of Pedralva. As its name indicates, this is a big sculpture, set at the Museu da Sociedade Martins Sarmento. The big guy is "de Pedralva" is because he was found in the village of Pedralva, not far from the ancient town of Citânia de Briteiros. In 1876, archaeologist Francisco Martins Sarmento brought the 10 foot tall stone man to his hometown, Guimarães.
The Colossus is composed of two pieces, the lower half, and the part with the arms and head that were found a few days later buried a few yards away from where the bottom. It is from the dawn of human history - and it could be an ancient fertility image. how he was used in ancient fertility rites is probably best left unknown....
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