Cruz de la Sierpes - Seville

The Cruz de las Sierpes is a wrought iron cross that we can currently find in the Plaza de Santa Cruz , in the heart of the most touristic district of the city.

This cross can be found under two names: Cruz de la Cerrajería ( the most popular) and Cruz de las Sierpes (possibly the real name, as we will see later).

The Cross of Las Sierpes was made by the Almonte-born rejero Sebastián Conde in 1692 and was to replace an earlier one , possibly made of wood, which had been placed at the beginning of the 17th century on what was known as Plazuela de la Cerrajería. Its origin seems to be related to a street altarpiece dedicated to the Virgen de Regla on the same site.

The wooden cross, which had fallen into disrepair because it was outdoors, had become very popular and it was decided to replace it with a wrought iron cross. It was made by the population and was carried on November 1, 1692 in a solemn procession on a float led by the brotherhood of the Rosary of the Sagrario from the steps of the cathedral.

Every May 3, a ceremony was held on the occasion of the liturgical feast of the Holy Cross, commemorating Saint Helena's discovery of the relic of the Holy Cross of Christ in the 4th century.

Apparently the Sierpes Cross was gilded the following year, in 1693, and remained there until 1729, when it was removed for the entry of Philip V into the city. It was later replaced in 1734 at the request of local residents, to which a curious anecdote is added. It turns out that in that year 1734 the drought punished the city , causing the feared bad harvests and the death of the Franciscan Sebastián de Jesús, who predicted two events: that little Carlos de Borbón would become king (something that came true) and that the drought would only end if the cross, which had been removed so as not to hinder the entry of the royal procession in 1729, would return at the corner of Sierpes. The city council responded to his call and the cross was replaced. According to the chronicles , it started to rain as soon as the workers went to work.

One of the most striking ornamental motifs are the acanthus leaves , which have been used since classical antiquity and which Christianity used as a symbol for the Passion of Christ . In the places where the nails would have been, we see them here in the shape of lilies . In the center of the cross a pierced heart that refers to Mary's pain and a crown of thorns as a symbol of Christ's suffering. The whole is completed by the four evangelists in the corners, angels holding the lanterns that illuminate the whole and the snakes or serpents that symbolize the evil over which the symbol of the cross triumphs.

Willem Vandenameele