Calpan: The Posa Chapels 3

southeast posa, west side

3. The Southeast Posa 
A third posa is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, author of the biblical Book of Revelation. The figure of the saint stands, bearing the poisoned chalice, in the center niche over the west archway, surrounded by bold medallions of the Tetramorph—the symbols of the Four Evangelists.
   The association of these symbols with the Four Evangelists springs from the passage in Revelation 4:7, "  The first living creature was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third had a face like a man and the fourth was like a flying eagle."

  

Matthew; Angel                                            Mark; Lion

Luke;  Bull                                                     John;  Eagle

 

On the east side of the posa an eroded relief depicts a bearded God the Father reigning in glory with the angels over the celestial city—all that remains of the sculptural ornament here. 

© Niccolo Brooker

text © 2018 Richard D. Perry.
 photography by Carolyn Brown, Patrice Schmitz, Felipe Falcón, Niccolo Brooker and the author