Who is the “Dama de Elche” or Lady of Elche? Many of you will recognise the photo, but maybe do not know much more of her story.
The Lady of Elche was found by chance in L’Alcúdia, close to Elche, in 1897, and bought for very little money by a French archaeologist. It is a limestone bust dating from the 4th century BC (the time of the Iberian tribes) and the opening in the rear of the sculpture indicates it may have been used as a funeral urn.
The story goes that the sculpture was found on 4 August 1897, by a young worker, Manuel Campello Esclapez, but the popular version of the story differs from the official report by a Pere Ibarra which stated that Antonio Maciá found the bust. The bust was quickly nicknamed “Reina Mora” or “Moor Queen” by locals.
An archaeological site is now located where the bust of Elche was discovered. Evidence has been found there of an Iberian-Punic settlement, a Roman sewer, walls and Roman houses, and mosaics. Dr. Campello, the owner of the farm, was married to an Asunción Ibarra, whose father´s hobby was archaeology. He had found a number of Iberian objects on his own land and in other places in the region of Elche, and having built up a valuable collection, it was left to his daughter Asunción with instructions in his Will that she arrange
for the collection to be offered for sale to the Real Academia de la Historia after her death, then finally to go to the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid.
Before then though, Don Pedro Ibarra invited a French archaeologist Pierre Paris to his home to see the Mystery Play of Elche, and when the archaeologist saw the Iberian bust, he realised how valuable and important it was and notified the Louvre in Paris. The Louvre offered a large sum of money for the time: 4000 francs, and purchased the sculpture within a few weeks of its discovery. Despite opposition from Asunción, who was meant to inherit it, the Iberian bust was sold, and on 30 August 1897, the sculpture was sent to the Louvre, where it remained for 40 years.
In 1939, at the start of World War II, it was transferred to a castle near Toulouse in France for safe-keeping and then an artistic exchange was done between Franco and France two years later, with it being returned to Spain in 1941 and it was exhibited first at the Museo del Prado and then at the National Archaeological Museum.
Since then there has been a lot of controversy over the Lady of Elche, as Elche understandably would like her returned. On the 120th anniversary of it being discovered in August this year, the mayor of Elche, Carlos González, announced that he had asked the Ministry for the temporary transfer of the statue back to Elche for the second quarter of 2018, against both the PPP and Cuidadanos parties wishes, as they both feel that it would cost too much to have the precious statue returned to Elche, with the specialist transport required, even temporarily. The response was no again, citing problems with security.
Then only recently a video has emerged on Twitter of an ant inside the supposedly sealed case in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid displaying the precious statue dating from the 5th century BC! The video has disappeared from twitter now, but of course, the Mayor of Elche and representatives are saying this is horrific and an outrage and it would not happen “to the Lady if she was kept safely in her place of origin “.
Apparently, the National Archaeological Museum, have now checked all their cabinets after the ant was seen in the showcase of the Lady of Elche (that was a fun job for someone!). According to their statement, “the sculpture, which is made from limestone, cannot be affected by insects. In any case, the Museum’s conservation experts have reviewed the piece and it is in perfect condition. “
So the battle goes on, even arguing over an ant and how it could damage the statue, and we will see if one day the lovely lady of Elche is eventually returned to her place of origin! In the meantime, you will see her face and odd horn-like headdress in many places around this area.
Amanda Thomas