Close-Up View of Dome from La Merced Church

I wander what those dog figures are guarding. What do you think?

12 Responses to "Close-Up View of Dome from La Merced Church"

Arturo Godoy says:

January 20, 2010 at 12:03 am

Don’t know, but what’s that Zanate doing there? ;O)

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Luis Figueroa says:

January 20, 2010 at 7:41 am

They are not dogs, he he; they are lions. They may be related to the kingdom of Aragón; or to Saint Mark. Cheers!!

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Luis Figueroa says:

January 20, 2010 at 7:43 am

I meant the kingdom of León; not Aragón.

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Sonia says:

January 20, 2010 at 8:06 am

I dunno, Luis. They really look like dogs to me!

Look at how their ears are all in different positions. And where are their manes? Don’t tell me the kingdom of Leon would have FEMALE lions guarding their catedrales!

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Sonia says:

January 20, 2010 at 8:12 am

Which branch of the catholic church built La Merced? If it’s Franciscan, then perhaps the dogs are related to some sort of story having to do with Saint Francis of Assisi and dogs?

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Luis Figueroa says:

January 20, 2010 at 4:27 pm

The dogs are symbols of the Dominican Order; and La Merced was built by the “Mercedarios”, not by the “Dominicos”. These are Lions. According to the experts, in the Medieval bestiary God is represented by a Lion; that is why lions are often represented kind of human. There is a painting of San Jeronimo in which “his” lion´s face is almost human. Now, think of the artist in the XVII Century, where on earth could the artist have access to the image of a real lion. They just imagined the lions and idealized them. This happens also in China. Chinese artists had references of lions from the Persians; and Chinese lions do not look quite as lions anyway. If we get closer pictures, you will be able to notice the manes (as imagined by XVII century artists in Guatemala)

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Stephanie says:

January 20, 2010 at 6:16 pm

I love how it’s like a Gothic cathedral — things on top that you can’t see from below and that are meant only for God to see.

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Erick says:

January 20, 2010 at 10:01 pm

Esos son chuchos!

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Sonia says:

January 21, 2010 at 8:26 am

Luis, wow, I am in the presence of an expert! I bow to your obvious knowledge about this matter. And for those who are doubters like me, just do search for “La Merced” pictures on this very site and you will find another close-up of the dome where you can clearly see that they are lions.

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mike says:

January 21, 2010 at 1:12 pm

I always like the designs of churches.

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Laura McNamara says:

January 24, 2010 at 3:23 pm

I never even noticed those dog-lions before this photo!

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Close-Up View of Dome from La Merced Church

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