What a Camel in New York Reveals About Medieval Spain

In this video, Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Steven Zucker explore the fascinating fresco of a camel from the first half of the 12th century, originally located in the church of San Baudelio de Berlanga, Spain. Now housed at The Met Cloisters in New York, this artwork offers a rare glimpse into the cultural and artistic exchanges between Spain and the wider medieval world. The camel, often seen as a symbol of trade and the East, represents the influence of Islamic art and culture on Christian Spain during the medieval period. Dr. Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Zucker discuss the significance of this fresco, its iconography, and what it reveals about the religious and cultural interactions in medieval Spain. Through their expert analysis, they shed light on how art from this period not only reflects local traditions but also global connections, making this piece a captivating link between Eastern and Western medieval worlds.