The Four Columns
Encyclopedia
The Four Columns are four Ionic
columns originally created by Josep Puig i Cadafalch
in Barcelona
, Catalonia
. They were erected in 1919, where the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
now stands.
They symbolized the four stripes of the Catalan senyera
, and they were intended to become one of the main icons of Catalanism. Because of this, they were demolished in 1928 during Primo de Rivera
's dictatorship
, when all public Catalanist symbols were systematically removed in order to avoid their being noticed during the 1929 Universal Exposition, which was to take place on Montjuïc
.
Moreover, because of these same political motives, Poble Espanyol
(Spanish Village in Catalan), on the same hill, was the name given to the open-air museum formerly to be named Iberona — in homage to the Iberians
, the first inhabitants of what is now Catalonia. Analogously for the nearby Plaça d'Espanya.
In 1999, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) erected four similar columns on its Bellaterra Campus.
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns originally created by Josep Puig i Cadafalch
Josep Puig i Cadafalch
Josep Puig i Cadafalch was a Spanish Catalan Modernista architect who designed many significant buildings in Barcelona...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. They were erected in 1919, where the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a fountain located at the head of Avenida Maria Cristina in the Montjuïc neighborhood of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The fountain is situated below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc hill and near the Plaça d'Espanya...
now stands.
They symbolized the four stripes of the Catalan senyera
Senyera
The Senyera is a vexillological symbol based on the coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon, which consists of four red stripes on a golden background...
, and they were intended to become one of the main icons of Catalanism. Because of this, they were demolished in 1928 during Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquis of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, Knight of Calatrava was a Spanish dictator, aristocrat, and a military official who was appointed Prime Minister by the King and who for seven years was a dictator, ending the turno system of alternating...
's dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
, when all public Catalanist symbols were systematically removed in order to avoid their being noticed during the 1929 Universal Exposition, which was to take place on Montjuïc
Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a hill located in Barcelona, Catalonia.-Etymology:Montjuïc is translated as 'Jew Hill' in medieval Catalan, or is perhaps related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus . The name is found in several locations in the Catalan Countries: the Catalan cities of Girona and Barcelona both have a...
.
Moreover, because of these same political motives, Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol
The Poble Espanyol is an outdoor open-air architectural museum, located on the mountain of Montjuïc, in the city of Barcelona, Spain.It was constructed in 1929, for the Barcelona International Exhibition, that was held in Barcelona that year....
(Spanish Village in Catalan), on the same hill, was the name given to the open-air museum formerly to be named Iberona — in homage to the Iberians
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
, the first inhabitants of what is now Catalonia. Analogously for the nearby Plaça d'Espanya.
In 1999, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) erected four similar columns on its Bellaterra Campus.