Frescos from the Tower of Hercules, Segovia, Spain - 13th century

A siege

The convent of the MM. Dominicans of Segovia, like many others was established in a palace donated by members of the aristocracy to the nuns, including a tower of the XIII century, which was locked and inaccessible to the monastic enclosure.

Most notable in this tower, called 'of Hercules', are painted on two of its rooms baseboards what are one of the most important sets of preserved Mudejar paintings.

Between the represented motif highlights is interlacing ornamentation that covers almost the entire surface forming many stars and figures of great beauty. Between this geometric decoration the artist also represented plants, animals, warriors and even a castle siege, all using only a deep red colour applied over white gypsum plaster. A Muslim artist is credited by both the prevalence of Moorish motifs, above all for the Arabic inscriptions that repeat the prayer: "In God is the Power. Let us thank God."

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