A Reconsideration of the Woman with the Skull on the Puerta de las Platerías of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Abstract

Although the Woman with the Skull relief has long been an established part of the canon, art historians have hitherto neglected to consider the architectural changes that were made over the centuries to the south transept portal of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, also called the Puerta de las Platerías. Most studies have assumed that the current position of the relief is identical with its original setting. Analysis of the architectural context and figurative style of the Woman with the Skull carving, however, makes clear that this extraordinary image was not originally intended for the south transept portal but must have been part of the Romanesque north portal, which was demolished in the eighteenth century. Called the Woman Taken in Adultery in the Pilgrim's Guide and represented as a seductive enchantress with long, flowing locks, the figure is stylistically and formally related to the relief panels of King David, the Creation of Adam, and Christ Bestowing Blessings. This essay will argue that, before the rebellion and assault on the cathedral in 1117, this figure may have been a representation of Bathsheba, who, along with David, Adam, and Eve, symbolized the penance and salvation yearned for by pilgrims on their long journey.