Spanish Fantasy

A cheeky, tourist magnet of a bronze devil doing a selfie is unloved by locals but adored by visitors who happen upon it. 10% of the population signed a petition against it as it was inappropriately “jovial” and “exalts evil,” It added that Satan should be “repulsive and despicable — not kind and seductive.”

But the Tourist Bureau went ahead and the Devil now sits self-absorbed with his back to a commanding view over the city and famous Aqueduct. The sculpture was by Antonio Abella, a local doctor and a gift to the city he loves.

Whether by design or not, the bronze was not marked officially on Google Maps. One of my photos was quickly featured.

Diablillo haciendose un selfie is on Calle San Juan, 40001 Segovia, Spain

https://maps.app.goo.gl/oGuNzqenpyrWMhGb6

Lovely short article in Time https://time.com/5504047/spain-segovia-devil-statue/

..........

I can't be flippant about this one.

In Western nations, we appear to be passing through an odd moment when, in face of an existential threat, the systems of popular democracy that have served us so well, are failing us.

The Devil controversy is as illuminating as our bizaire support for a looney religious footy hero. Or a Trump, a Johnson or a Morrison.

Segovia is not hicksville. It is rich and happy, living off the local as well as international tourist stream. Its wealth is built on massive public investment that is barely acknowledged. For example beneath those quaint (but superclean) cobbled streets are extensive carparks and lifts so that weekend trips by BMW or Audi from Madrid are the norm. It's a Spanish dreamtown where scores of prepubescent girls in full length white & boys in fake military costumes led by doting parents to be confirmed in an ornate, bell-ringing cathederal. Where the rambling Jewish quarter is devoid of Jews (expelled in 15c.). Where every other non-Catholic was shot or shipped off to Nazi work camps after the Franco victory in 1939

So no, the brilliance of this depiction of the nature of evil is not appreciated: it reflects too well inconvenient truths.