One of the most impressive sculptures we can find inside the Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires is known as Sagunto.
Its sculptor, Agustín Querol Subirats (1863-1909), wanted to depict an event occurred in the town of Sagunto (or Sagunt) on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in Spain. Sagunto, back to the second century BC, was protected by Rome and were a city of great splendor. In 218 BC, the city was attacked and devastated by the troops of Hannibal, great Carthaginian conqueror. The lack of Roman protection to the city of Sagunto made its inhabitants, after a prolonged harassment by the Carthaginian, prefer taking their own lives to surrender. This sculpture shows a mother killing herself after killing her own child, before the city was destroyed by the war. The conquest of the city of Sagunto by Hannibal started the Second Punic War, between Rome and Carthage, an episode written forever in history with letters of blood.
The sculpture at the Botanic Gardens measures 2 meters long and was made of Carrara marble in 1905. It was acquired in Europe by Eduardo Schiaffino (1858-1935), an Argentine painter, critic, intellectual and historian. Initially, it was placed at the Plaza San Martín in Buenos Aires in 1908. However in 1954, Sagunto was transfered to a municipal deposit, because it was considered to be a sculpture of strong emotional impact (another sculpture already related here passed through a very similar situation). In 1961, Sagunto was placed in Plaza España, and finally in 1974 it was installed in the Botanical Garden, where it is since then.
Recently, on a trip through Spain, we were very close to the city of Sagunto, but unfortunately I could only photograph the plate on the road. I still want to visit the city that witnessed this demonstration of the human cruelty, destruction and regeneration capability.
Sagunto’s road sign in Spain.
Where to find the sculpture?
Jardín Botánico | Av. Santa Fé 3951 | Tel: +54 (11) 4831-4527 | Bs As | Argentina
Where to find the city?
25km from Valencia | Spain
sepphora | July 11, 2009 | 3:54 pm | Palermo
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