Origins of the Penitente Movement The Architecture of the Moradas Transcriber's Note: With the exception of Figure 26, which forms the frontispiece of this work, the individual figures have been shifted next to their first mention in the text. Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. Contributions from The Penitente Moradas of AbiquiÚ Introduction Penitente Organization Origins of the Penitente Movement The History of AbiquiÚ The Architecture of the Moradas Interior Space and Artifacts Summary Smithsonian Institution Press U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1968 0—287-597 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Richard E. Ahlborn THE PENITENTE MORADAS OF ABIQUIÚBy the early 19th century, Spanish-speaking residents of villages in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado felt the need for a brotherhood that would preserve their traditional social and religious beliefs. Known as "brothers of light," or penitentes, these Spanish-Americans centered their activities in a houselike building, or morada, especially equipped for Holy Week ceremonies. For the first time, two intact moradas have been fully photographed and described through the cooperation of the penitente brothers of AbiquiÚ, New Mexico. The Author: Richard E. Ahlborn is associate curator in the Division of Cultural History in the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of History and Technology. |