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The White Cross

Bert45

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2003, 2014, 2016, 2016, 2018, 2019
My question might be better placed in the language section of the forum.
The plaque by the foot of the White Cross, or Cross of Roldán, between Roncesvalles and Burguete, says: 'CRUZ DE ROLDAN "CRUZ BLANCA" [followed by what I presume are the same words in Basque] S. XVII abatida en 1794 repuesta el 24-09-2006'

My question is: What does 'abatida' mean in this context? I used Google Translate and found the following: dejected, disheartened, discouraged, demoralized, crushed, desolate, heartbroken, broken-hearted, heavy-hearted, low-spirited, in the doldrums, sad, unhappy, long-faced, fed-up, wretched, glum, gloomy, dismal, shamefaced, hangdog ... (and more)

None of these words seemed to fit (!)
I then turned to a small dictionary and found that 'abatido/-a' can be all those things above, but that 'abatir' can mean to overthrow, knock down; pull down; take down (tents) and a few other things. I suppose you'd need to be a medium to read the mind of the person who wrote the inscription, but my choice for a translation seems to be between 'knocked down' and 'pulled down'. It could have been accidentally knocked down, but pulled down must be deliberate.

Do you know whether the Cross of Roldan was knocked down accidentally or pulled down deliberately? If it was pulled down, why? If it was 'repuesta' in 2006, was it replaced with the original masonry or with a modern copy?

An apology: The last question and, to an extent, the question before that, has been answered when I asked the same questions some years ago.
 
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An apology: The last question and, to an extent, the question before that, has been answered when I asked the same questions some years ago.
Yes, you asked about this cross and the other cross nearby several years ago.

I don't recall that, at the time, I saw this article (see link below) about this cross near Burguete that provides a description of its background and its history that I personally find more credible as an explanation of its function than a cross that purifies the forest of the influence of witches. Which, however, is a much better story for tourists and pilgrims in Navarra than the more boring explanation provided in the article.

The article was published in March 2021. The author is Joseph Irigaray Gil who appears to be a local from Burguete with an interest in local history, in addition to being also the mayor of Burguete.

The function of the cross is the same as other crosses along the Camino de Santiago: To mark the border between two villages and to mark the way between them.

See Auritz/Burguete y Orreaga/Roncesvalles, Ejemplos de Convivencia

I find it a bit amusing that it is called White Cross and Roland's Cross. As if there are two competing and rather different legends.
 
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