El Cid Campeador (sculpture) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids El Cid Campeador
The statue in 2006
Artist	Anna Hyatt Huntington (sculptor) William Templeton Johnson (architect)
Year	1927 (1927)
Type	Sculpture
Medium	Sculpture: bronze Base: concrete or Indiana limestone
Subject	El Cid
Condition	"Treatment needed" (1994)
Location	San Diego, California, U.S.
Coordinates	32°43′51″N 117°09′02″W / 32.73095°N 117.15044°W / 32.73095; -117.15044

The El Cid Campeador statue is a famous outdoor sculpture. It shows a Spanish knight named El Cid riding a horse. The artist who created it was Anna Hyatt Huntington. William Templeton Johnson was the architect, and the General Bronze Company helped make it.

You can find this impressive statue in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It stands in a place called Plaza de Panama. The statue is made of bronze. It was finished in 1927 and officially shown to the public on July 5, 1930.

The statue itself is about 11 feet tall, 9 feet wide, and 7 feet long. It sits on a large base made of concrete or limestone. In 1994, experts checked the statue and said it needed some care to stay in good condition.

Who Was El Cid?

El Cid, whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, was a very famous knight from Spain. He lived a long, long time ago, in the 11th century. People called him "El Cid," which means "the Lord" in Arabic. They also called him "Campeador," which means "Champion" or "Master of the Battlefield" in Spanish.

El Cid was known for his bravery and skill in battle. He fought in many wars, both for and against different rulers in Spain. He became a legendary hero in Spanish history and folklore. Many stories and poems have been written about his adventures.

The Artist: Anna Hyatt Huntington

The talented artist behind the El Cid statue was Anna Hyatt Huntington. She was an American sculptor, born in 1876. Anna Hyatt Huntington was especially famous for her sculptures of animals, especially horses. She made many large, impressive statues.

Anna Hyatt Huntington was married to Archer M. Huntington. He was the person who started the Hispanic Society of America in New York City. This society is dedicated to studying the cultures of Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.

The Statue's Journey and Copies

The El Cid statue in San Diego is not the only one. Anna Hyatt Huntington made several copies of this famous sculpture. These copies are located in different cities around the world.

You can find other versions of the El Cid statue in places like Buenos Aires, Argentina, and New York City in the United States. There are also copies in Seville and Valencia, both in Spain. The original statue in New York City is on the grounds of the Hispanic Society of America.

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