Have you noticed the wistful gaze of this bronze figure? This is the Nuredduna Statue. It stands as a testament to a tragic love story, forever etched in the cultural heart of Mallorca. The Nuredduna Statue is located near the Palacio de Congresos in Palma.
The statue is the creation of the talented Remigia Caubet Gonzàlez. It depicts Nuredduna as a young woman. She walks against the wind with a sad expression. A lyre rests in her right hand.
Nuredduna’s tale originates from “La deixa del geni grec” (“The Legacy of the Greek genius”). The poem was written by Miquel Costa i Llobera in 1900. Costa i Llobera coined the name Nuredduna from “nur”. In ancient Eastern languages, “nur” means fire.
The poem tells of Greeks landing in Mallorca near Port de Pollença millennia ago. Among them is Melesigeni, a poet and Homer’s alter ego. The islanders imprison the Greeks in the caves of Artà.
Nuredduna, a Mallorcan priestess, falls in love with Melesigeni. She frees him and his companions one night. In their hasty escape, Melesigeni leaves his lyre behind. This lyre becomes the legacy of Greek genius. It is the classicism that enriches popular poetry. It inspires cultured poetry.
Another version of the story says that Nuredduna was the granddaughter of a Talayotic tribal chief. Melesigeni was a Greek soldier. Nuredduna fell in love with him as he sang and played his lyre. He and other soldiers were about to be sacrificed. Nuredduna helped him escape to the Caves of Artà. He forgot his lyre in his haste.
Melesigeni launched an attack on Ses Païsses after returning to his ship. Nuredduna’s betrayal was discovered. Her family sentenced her to death by stoning. Mortally wounded, she sought refuge in the caves. She died there.
Now, this statue of Nuredduna waits by the sea. She hopes for Melesigeni’s return. The statue embodies longing and the pain of impossible love. The artist Remigia Caubet Gonzàlez has captured the essence of this tragic figure. She stands as a symbol of Majorcan culture.
Interestingly, Miquel Costa i Llobera was born in Pollença, Mallorca, in 1894. He wrote mainly in Catalan. He is a prominent figure in Catalan poetry. Furthermore, an asteroid (16852) is named after Nuredduna. This immortalizes her legacy in the stars.
Take a moment to appreciate the artistry and the story. The Nuredduna Statue reminds us of love, loss, and the enduring power of legend. It also reminds us of the impact of cultural heritage.