Cathedral of Mérida, Yucatán facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mérida Cathedral |
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The Mérida Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Ildefonso.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Status | Preserved |
| Location | |
| Location | Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Juan Miguel de Agüero |
| Architectural type | Cathedral |
| Groundbreaking | 1562 |
| Completed | 1598 |
| Materials | Stone |
The Mérida Cathedral, located in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, is a very important and historic building. It is one of the oldest cathedrals in all of the Americas. A cathedral is a large and important church that serves as the main church for a region, led by a church official called a bishop.
This cathedral is officially named the Cathedral of San Ildefonso, in honor of Saint Ildephonsus of Toledo.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The story of the Mérida Cathedral begins in the 1500s, when Spain was building colonies in the Americas. The Spanish wanted to establish the Roman Catholic faith in the new lands.
A New Church for a New City
After the Spanish founded the city of Mérida, they planned to build a great church. In 1561, the Pope officially created the church district, or diocese, for the Yucatán region. The first bishop, a man named Francisco Toral, arrived in 1562. Soon after he arrived, work on the new cathedral began.
The cathedral took 36 years to build. Construction started in 1562 and was finally finished in 1598. It was the second cathedral to be completed on the American mainland. The design of its high, arched ceilings was inspired by the famous Cathedral of Jaen in Andalusia, Spain.
The cathedral is so old and important that it is even mentioned in the Books of Chilam Balam, which are historical books written by the Maya people.
How the Cathedral Was Built
The cathedral was built in a very special place. It stands on the ruins of the ancient Maya city of T'ho, which the Spanish renamed Mérida.
Using Ancient Stones
To build the cathedral, workers used stones from a Maya temple that had been destroyed. This means parts of an ancient Maya building became part of this new church. We even know the names of two of the Maya workers who helped build it: Francisco Pool and Diego Can.
The first person in charge of the construction was Don Pedro de Aulestia. The main architect who finished the project was Juan Miguel de Agüero.
The Cathedral's Coat of Arms
On the front of the cathedral, there is a stone shield called a coat of arms. This symbol has a fascinating history that shows the changes in Mexico over time.
From Spanish Rule to Mexican Independence
Originally, the shield showed the royal coat of arms of Spain. It had symbols like golden castles and lions with crowns. This represented the power of the Spanish king.
However, after Mexico won its independence from Spain in the 1820s, many people had anti-Spanish feelings. The center of the shield, with the castles and lions, was chiseled away. In 1824, the empty space was filled with a new symbol: a Mexican eagle.
Later, the entire coat of arms was covered up with a layer of cement. It was hidden for many years until it was finally uncovered, revealing the mix of Spanish and Mexican history that you can see today.
Statues on the Building
If you look at the front of the cathedral, you will see statues of two important Christian saints: Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These statues are placed in special carved-out spaces called niches.
- Saint Paul is shown holding a sword and a book. These are his traditional symbols.
- Saint Peter is shown holding a set of keys. These keys are a symbol of his authority in the Church.
These statues have watched over the main square of Mérida for centuries.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de San Ildefonso (Mérida) para niños
