A SIMBOLOGIA DA ÁGUA NAS CANTIGAS DE MILAGRE, DE DOM AFONSO X: CANTIGA 95 DE SANTA MARIA

The Cantigas de Santa Maria (Songs of St. Mary), composed in the 13th century by order of King Afonso X the Wise, constitute a rich panel of medieval culture and reveal the deep relationship between medieval man and nature, especially water which, in this scenario, emerges as a central element, full of symbolism and meaning. In a context marked by strong religiosity and a close relationship between man and nature, water, present in various manifestations - from the rains that fertilize the earth to the oceans that inspire fear - plays a fundamental role in the miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary. CSM 95, for example, recounts an episode in which the Virgin calms a storm, transforming the previously threatening water into an instrument of salvation. Analyzing water in the Cantigas de Santa Maria allows us to understand how this natural element intertwines with the sacred, mediating the relationship between man and the divine. The Virgin Mary, as a maternal and protective figure, uses water as an instrument to perform her miracles, demonstrating her power over the forces of nature and her compassion for men. By exploring this theme, this work seeks to contribute to a better understanding of medieval popular religiosity and the relationship between man and the environment. As well as being an essential element for life, water is a powerful cultural symbol, loaded with meanings that transcend time and space. The circumstances surrounding water are manifold and it has become an element of our lives.