The Shells on the Camino de Santiago
The History of the Shells on the Camino de Santiago
Understanding the origin or meaning of the Santiago shell and why this scallop shell has become the most important symbol identifying a pilgrim since time immemorial is not an easy task.
This shell, along with the pilgrim's staff, the cape with shoulder cape, and the wide-brimmed hat, are the most representative emblems of a pilgrim.
The Pilgrim’s Shell was included in the papal coat of arms by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, significantly increasing its value as both a religious symbol and a representation of the Camino de Santiago.
There are several theories that attempt to explain the connection between this symbol and the Camino de Santiago:
Some believe that the shell was originally used by pilgrims to drink water from rivers and streams.
Others suggest that when pilgrims arrived in Compostela, they were given two items: a parchment certifying them as official pilgrims of the Camino de Santiago and a scallop shell placed on their hat. This shell distinguished those who had reached Santiago from those who hadn’t as they returned home. It is worth remembering that in the past, completing the Camino de Santiago included both the journey to and from Santiago.
There is also a connection to Venus, the goddess of love, as depicted in Botticelli's painting. In the painting, Venus is standing on a scallop shell, symbolizing the rebirth of a person—the death of the ego to make way for humility. This resonates with what many pilgrims say: “When you finish the Camino, you are a new person.”
According to popular tradition, the adoption of the pilgrim’s shell might be linked to the return of Saint James the Greater’s disciples to the Iberian Peninsula by boat to bury their master’s remains. Upon reaching the Galician coast, the disciples reportedly witnessed a wedding celebration where riders were participating in a peculiar game.
During the groom's turn, he had an accident and fell into the sea. Moments later, both the rider and his horse appeared safe and sound next to the disciples' boat. As the young man greeted the disciples and recounted what had happened, he realized that his body was covered in scallop shells. The event of his salvation and subsequent conversion to Christianity was deemed a miracle of Saint James by the disciples. To commemorate this miracle, it was established that every pilgrim should carry a shell with them.
Whatever the origin of the shell may be, what we know for certain is that it represents the Camino de Santiago and all its pilgrims.
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