Bless us, Saint Barbara!
This is the original 17th century wooden statue of the saint and martyr, Saint Barbara. December 4th is her saint date.
She is the patron saint of armorers, artillerymen, architects, mathematicians, miners, and anyone else who works with gunpowder. In fact, the powder magazines on ships were named after her, and it was customary for a statue of her to be placed in said magazines. Santa Barbara is also invoked against lightning, fire, and sudden death. At the Forts, her figure was always present.
Saint Barbara was locked away in a tower by her father, but learned of Christianity and converted in the 3rd century. During her execution, her father was struck by lightning thus killing him as well. She stands holding a palm frond (a symbol of martyrdom) in her right hand and a tower on her left hand.
The statue itself is carved from wood and stands at 2 feet and 8 inches (81 cm) tall. The semi-circular base is not original to the statue, the Spanish artist is unknown and the statue has faded from use and old age. If you look carefully, you can see the remnants of gold leaf, red paint and blue paint that once covered the statue.
P.S. Legend has it... that during the Spanish-American War in 1898, San Cristóbal was under fire, receiving heavy blows from American artillery. A round hit the Chapel housing Saint Barbara in the Plaza Principal and it did not explode. It did nothing. Maybe it was simply a dud, but perhaps Saint Barbara was looking favorably on San Cristóbal that day.
Statue, SAJU 2640, in the collection of the San Juan National Historic Site, San Juan,
P.R. Courtesy of the National Park Service, Gary Tarleton Museum Conservation
Services, NPS Photographer, 2012.
Image description: Wood statue of female saint, Santa Barbara. She holds a palm
frond and a small tower in her hands.