Santo Ecce Homo de Popayán, Religious wooden sculpture in Popayán, Colombia.
Santo Ecce Homo de Popayán is a full-size wooden figure depicting Jesus Christ wearing golden crowns and holding a reed. The original rests in the Sanctuary of Belén, while a replica from the 1960s is used in the city's religious processions.
This figure arrived in Popayán in 1680, where craftsman Juan Antonio de Velasco completed the unfinished work. In 1717 it was moved to the cathedral, where it found a new place in the city's religious history.
The veneration of this wooden sculpture is deeply rooted in Popayán and shows itself through two annual processions where women and men participate in separate ceremonies. This religious practice shapes the city's life together and connects different generations through shared rituals and devotion.
Visitors can see the original in the Sanctuary of Belén, while processions take place at different times of the year. It helps to ask locally about procession dates to experience this cultural event.
The base of this figure displays intricate silver engravings and precious stones, showing centuries of Colombian craftsmanship. This artisan tradition makes the work an example of artistic skill that goes beyond woodcarving.
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