Protection & Property: Apotropaic Markings on Rural Andorran Buildings

by Martin Locker

'Protection and Property: Apotropaic Marks on Rural Andorran Buildings' is the first monograph from Mons Culturae Press and addresses the often-overlooked theme of apotropaic carvings on door panels and frames in Andorra. Through the analysis of data gathered across eight months and over three hundred sites in the country, these motifs are divided into various categories and variants, with their potential symbolism explored in relation to other examples in Andorra, the Pyrenees and further afield. Their examination in this unique study gives the reader a glimpse into the living tradition of superstitions and beliefs relating to pastoral life in Andorra, and also acts as an archive for the carvings which are fast-vanishing across the rural Andorran landscape. The first study of its kind in relation to Andorra, particularly in English.

160 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2023