{"id":87536,"date":"2019-04-18T20:02:15","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T00:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wend.ca\/?p=87536"},"modified":"2020-03-18T09:14:40","modified_gmt":"2020-03-18T13:14:40","slug":"the-door-knockers-aldabas-of-cartagena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wend.ca\/?p=87536","title":{"rendered":"The Door Knockers (aldabas) of Cartagena"},"content":{"rendered":"

The decorations on many of the doors in old Cartagena tell a story of status; much like the crow-stepped gables you see on buildings in Belgium<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The size of the door, the number of knobs you find on the door, and the type of knocker indicate both the status of the original homeowner (historical) and their profession. Cartageneros<\/em> are very proud of the aldabas<\/em> that decorate the doors in the city.<\/p>\n

Lions<\/h3>\n

The practice of showing status on doors originates in Ancient Greece. The popularity spread to the rest of Europe with the Romans and then to the colonies when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, one of the most enduring themes for knockers throughout the world is that of a lion’s head. The lion is seen as the king of beasts and a lion’s head is a symbol for bravery, strength, and valour. <\/p>\n

In Cartagena, a lion head on a door is found at the home of a person who was in the military or was a protector of the city.<\/p>\n