Mural with three characteristic elements of Candelaria (Canary Islands). CCC's Street Art Contest #123

About a month ago, I was on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) giving a training course at the University of La Laguna. Because I scheduled my trip to arrive a day before the course started, I was able to take advantage of my stay on the island to visit some of the towns near Santa Cruz de Tenerife and in particular I was able to visit the town of La Candelaria, which is located about 25 kilometers from Santa Cruz.

During my stay in La Candelaria I visited the basilica of the Virgen de la Candelaria and also the sculptural ensemble in homage to the Menceys (ancient aboriginal chiefs of the Canary Islands before the conquest of the islands by Spain).

When I was about to go to the beach of Candelaria through Obispo Pérez Cáceres Street I found this simple but beautiful mural by the Canarian muralist Ione Dominguez, which is a tribute to three of the symbols of the town where the artist was born.

Virgin of La Candelaria

The Virgin of La Candelaria is the virgin to whom not only the believers of the locality are devoted, but she is the patron saint of all the Canary Islands. Also in much of Latin America there is a great devotion to this virgin, largely due to the large number of Canarian sailors in the various expeditions in the fifteenth and sixteenth century, during the conquest of America by the Spanish crown.

The mackerels

The name of the inhabitants of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and in extension of the inhabitants of the island of Tenerife has its origin in this small fish called chicharro (mackerel in english). This type of fish in ancient times was the means of sustenance of the humble families of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, so the nickname chicharrero was used in a derogatory way by the wealthiest inhabitants of La Laguna at the beginning of the 19th century. However, at the end of the 19th century the capital of the island was moved to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and its citizens took on what was an insult as a proper gentilicio.

Mencey

Initially, when I saw the mural, I thought that the third image of the mural was a representation of Jesus Christ. However, seeing the total context of the mural, I have realized that what it really represents is the face of one of the Canarian aborigines and specifically one of the Menceys or Canarian kings. As La Candelaria was part of the Menceyato de Guimar, I believe that the mural represents Mencey Añaterve, who was the last Mencey before the conquest of the island by the Spaniards.

For those of you who want to know the exact location of the mural I share in my #Pinmapple map its location. At the same time, you can see in the street view that a few years ago the mural that was in the same location was slightly different. This is due to the fact that about 4 years ago a revision of the mural was requested by the city council of Candelaria.

I hope you like my contribution to the contest.

Regards.

Sources used to document for the post: www.wikipedia.com and https://www.isladetenerifevivela.com/2011/11/menceyatos.html

Own photograph taken with my Iphone SE.

Cover and separators has been created with www.canva.com (free version)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version).