El National Archaeological Museum of Spain is installed in the Palace of Library and National Museums of Madrid, a 19th century neoclassical building started by the architect Francisco Jareño and ended by Antonio Ruiz deSalces, shared with the National Library. It is located on Serrano Street, next to Plaza de Colón. But another day we will talk more about the building, today we want to focus on the Great Iberian Lady: the Lady of Elche.

La Lady of Elche It is an Iberian limestone sculpture, dated between the 56th and 65,08th centuries BC. C. Measures XNUMX cm. tall and weighs XNUMX kg. This sculpture was originally polychrome and with eyes filled with vitreous paste. The hole in its back was possibly used to introduce relics, sacred objects or ashes as offerings to the deceased. She represents a woman with perfect features, possibly idealized, and richly dressed.

Surely this bust was part of a full-length statue since the lower cut is very abrupt and irregular.

It was discovered on August 4, 1897. The piece was found near Elche, where there is a mound that the Arabs called Alcudia ('mound') and that in ancient times was almost surrounded by a river. The farm workers were clearing the southeastern slope of the La Alcudia hill for agricultural use. We know that it was an Iberian settlement called Helike (in Greek) and that the Romans called Colonia Iulia Illici Augusta. When the Arabs arrived, they located the city lower down, on the flat part, preserving the Roman toponym of Illici, which was Arabized by the sound into “Elche”.

Today she is the absolute protagonist of the Archaeological Museum, but our Great Lady, who when she was found was called Blackberry Queen, hasn't always been here. First she was displayed on the balcony of the family of Dr. Campello, owner of the farm where the Lady was found so that all the inhabitants of Elche could see her.

But it would remain there for a short time, the French archaeologist Pierre Paris visiting Elche, invited to see the sculpture, negotiated its purchase for the Louvre Museum. That same month, on August 30, he left for Paris. She spent more than 40 years in the Louvre, until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 took her to Toulouse as a precaution against the advance of the War. Finally, and after long negotiations in 1941, she returned to Spain.

Returned as property of Museo del Prado (catalog number E433), where the Lady of Elche remained in 1965, returning to Elche lands on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the Mystery of Elche. Since 1971 we can see it in the National Archaeological Museum, where it is in deposit condition. She has returned to Elche once more, but now, after the renovation of the Archaeological Museum (between 2008 and 2013), she once again shines with her own light.

Although it is located practically in the same place as before, it now has a very different installation. Its prominence has been underlined. It can be seen from three rooms away. Installed in its own display case, with special lighting, it is aesthetically spectacular.

We will return in our series of 365 days in Madrid to the Archaeological Museum since there are still many gems to visit, Moorish Well, the sculpture of Libya and her son Tiberius, Costitxs bulls, treasure of Guarrazar and Balazote Bug.

A abrazo.