The mayor of Cartagena, Pilar Barreiro, and the mayor of Lorca, Francisco Jodar, have wrapped today in the Palacio Constorial the port city of the exhibition presenting Lorca, Sephardic lights, which shows the Jewish culture of the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, from the discovery of the remains of the Jewish Quarter of the city Lorca.
For the development of the exhibition, which opens today, we have chosen two landmarks of the city, the Palace Hall, where he remained until 15 January and the Roman Theatre Museum, which runs until 27 March.
The sample provided with content that enables you to experience the unique archaeological heritage unearthed in the Jewish quarter of the Castillo de Lorca, is about 90 pieces presented in the context in which they were employed.
All objects have survived five centuries under the ground, intact, thanks to the space in which Jews lived at the time were expelled by the Catholic Monarchs was never occupied by anyone after his departure.
One of the biggest attractions of the exhibition focus revolves around the synagogue, a building that has been found in an excellent state of preservation, and from which some 2,500 pieces of glass from up to 20 lamps that illuminated medieval Jewish religious space, and are unique worldwide.
The visit to the exhibition is completed with a video you can see the Jewish quarter and the synagogue was rebuilt in 3D with an interactive showing the most significant findings with an explanation of the synagogue Lorca.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Autonomous Region of Murcia, the city of Cartagena and Cartagena Roman Theater Foundation, the exhibition has the support of Casa Sefarad Israel, Sephardic Beitenu Foundation and the City of Lorca.
SUBJECT AREAS TICOS of the exhibition "N
The content of the exhibition is divided into five thematic areas that place spatial and chronological Jewish presence, dedicated to highlighting the planning, the synagogue and Jewish religious aspects.
I. The Jews in Spain.
This area raises awareness of the origins of the Jewish presence in the environment of Carthago Nova (Cartagena, Spain), from its origins to the late Middle Ages.
II. The border town of Lorca.
How Lorca spreads slowly changed from capitulation to the Spanish troops in 1244, going from being an important medina to a border village.
Throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries a Christian majority lived with a Jewish community.
III. Castellated Lorca Jewry.
Through archaeological excavations and the late medieval documents, shows that the Jewish quarter of Lorca, in the fifteenth century, was located inside the castle, the Jews living under the walls of the fortress.
IV. Janukká, the Feast of Lights.
In several houses were found fragments of janukkía, Jewish ritual lamp connected with the festival of light or Janukká, held at the end of the month of Kislev (December).
Lasts eight days, lighting one additional light each day in a ritual lamp containing eight cups for oil and an assistant, called samas, larger, which acts as a server.
The lamp should be placed in a conspicuous place near windows or doors of each house.
V. The synagogue in Lorca.
In this area we present the characteristics of the synagogue, located on the lower part of the excavated sector of Jewry, is rectangular in shape with two entrances open to a courtyard.
In the middle of the room were the remains of the bimah, a finding of great importance because of its uniqueness, since normally the synagogues were converted into churches, disappearing this item.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena