- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Seduction of Evil? Outrage Over Smiley, Selfie-Taking Satan Statue

© Photo : City of SegoviaSatan sculpture
Satan sculpture - Sputnik International
Subscribe
A Spanish city is weighing a new way to attract tourists and visitors to one of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts in Western Europe.

The devil himself has made world headlines this week as residents of Segovia, a city in central Spain, are puzzled (and divided) over the local government’s plans to install a bronze statue portraying Lucifer. 

READ MORE: Fans Polish Ronaldo Statue’s Groin by Constant Rubbing (PHOTOS)

The 1.7-metre sculpture depicts smiling Satan, holding a smartphone and taking a selfie – an idea to attract tourists to the city located north of the Spanish capital, Madrid and to the northern wall of Segovia’s world-famous aqueduct.

Jason Dalton (left) talks with his defence attorney Eusebio Solis during the court hearing on January 7, 2019 - Sputnik International
'Devil on Uber App Made Me Do It': US Killer Pleads Guilty to Murders
The installation was proposed in order to convey an ancient legend about the aqueduct bridge: according to the myth, it was built not by the Romans, but by Mephistopheles himself after he was tricked by a young Segovian into raising the bridge in a single night.

While the government hoped to brace for a tourist boom, the selfie-snapping devil appeared to spark much backlash from Segovia’s residents. Over 5,400 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding it not be installed, and claiming it is an insult to Catholics.

The petition describes smiling Satan as “offensive for Catholics because it constitutes the glorification of evil”, and insists that the devil should be “repulsive and despicable – not kind and seductive, like that of the ‘good-natured devil’ without malice”.

The widespread indignation has caused a judge to suspend the installation until the court can determine if the sculpture is deemed an attack on religious sentiments.

READ MORE: Golden Globe 2019 Highlights: Kudos to 'Satan', Flu Shots & Fiji Water Girl

Speaking to El Pais, Jose Antonio Abella, the man behind the idea of the statue, revealed he was inspired after vising Lubeck, a German city that he said also has a local legend of Satan being duped into building a church.

“When I saw the little figure they had there as a tribute, I thought, ‘What a great idea to export to Segovia!’”

Abella was taken by surprise to find out about the controversy his statue has stirred in the Spanish city and said that he wanted to “pay homage to my city and create something to give back all I have been given”.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала