Sacred Light in the Darkness | MPC Lecture Forum 103
Course Description:Archaeologist Rubén G. Mendoza was party to an accidental discovery years ago at a mission church. He realized that the winter solstice triggers an extraordinarily rare and fascinating event: a sunbeam enters the church and bathes an important religious object, altar, crucifix, or statue in brilliant light. In the effort to convert Native Americans who celebrated the solstice sun’s seeming victory over darkness, Catholic missionaries channeled the sun’s symbolism into a Christian message. Since that initial discovery in 1997, Mendoza has documented scores of similar such sites throughout the American hemisphere. |
Tuition: $0.00 Additional Fees: $0.00 |
Day/Time
Wednesday, Dec. 6 *1:30 - 2:30 pm* (1 session)
Location
Offered in collaboration with our friends at The Gentrain Society, all lectures will be held in Lecture Forum 103 at Monterey Peninsula College from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Free - All Welcome. Parking is $3.
Facilitator:
Rubén G. Mendoza, Ph.D., is an archaeologist, writer, photographer, and founding faculty member of CSUMB. He has directed major archaeological investigations at the missions of San Juan Bautista, San Carlos Borromeo, San Miguel Arcángel, and La Soledad. His groundbreaking work at the Spanish Royal Presidio of Monterey resulted in the discovery of the Serra Chapels of 1770 and 1772.