Why is the giant statue of Jesus missing an arm and leg being repaired in Mexico (5 photos)

This huge sculpture of Christ, known as the "Broken Christ", may not be as famous as many others, but it is probably the most unusual. The history of this sculpture is shrouded in legends about real miracles. The statue of Jesus itself, without an arm and a leg, surprises with its unusual appearance, which does not at all correspond to the usual Christian canons.





"Broken Christ" close up

"Broken Christ" (sometimes translated as "Broken Christ") is a 25-meter-tall concrete and steel sculpture (plus a 3-meter concrete base) located on an island in a man-made lake in Mexico. The lake appeared after the construction of a dam here in the first half of the 20th century.

The story is connected with a familiar plot - a dam flooded a small settlement that was native to many generations of people.

This settlement was inhabited by representatives of the Chichimec people, one of the indigenous peoples of the region. In the 17th century, with the advent of the Spanish conquerors, the Chichimecs had to leave their lands and found a new settlement in the mountainous area, which over time turned into the small city of San Jose.



View of the sculpture "Broken Christ"

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, Mexican authorities decided to build a dam here to provide water for agricultural land in the Aguascalientes Valley. As a result of the flooding, the settlement of San Jose was under water, and its residents were again forced to move - this time to the city of San Jose de Gracia, which was built on the shore of the lake.

In the flooded area, only one high hill remained, which later turned into an island, on which the statue of the “Broken Christ” now stands.

This work by sculptor Miguel Romo was inspired by a local legend about a priest who found a broken crucifix and set out to fix it. However, he had a vision of a crucifix telling him that it should remain broken and become a symbol for those who feel broken or lost.





Sculpture "Broken Christ"

There is also a legend about how at the beginning of the 19th century a mule appeared in San Jose, which was not recognized by any of the locals - it was also not possible to find out where it came from. The animal wandered around the city for several days before stopping near a local church.

There was luggage on the mule - a kind of box. They decided to remove it and open it - inside there was an image of the crucified Christ. For local residents, this is about the same miracle as the appearance of an icon becomes for us.

But whether this image of Christ was lost, or is it just a legend, is unknown. But the legend itself is known to everyone - and the image of the “Broken Christ” (El Cristo Roto) is also very popular in Mexico, being part of both historical and modern culture. Mexican poets, musicians, screenwriters, etc. turn to this image.



El Cristo Roto – sculptures, books, records...

Of course, the main idea of this statue is the memory of the tragedy of a people who repeatedly lost their homes. In this sense, the statue acquired its uniqueness, towering above the waters of the lake, on the days of which those very houses are located.

Since the "Broken Christ" statue was unveiled in 2006, it has become a place of religious pilgrimage and service for many Mexicans.

For those who are not particularly interested in religious aspects, the statue has become simply one of the attractions of the region. It is one of the five largest sculptures that can be seen in Mexico. Moreover, the causeway and the island are known for their panoramic views, typical of Central Mexico.



The island on which stands the sculpture "Broken Christ"

The island itself can only be reached by water - by boat. After which you still have to climb the stairs.

Near the statue there is the Sanctuary of the Broken Christ. For tourists, this may be interesting as a museum of statues of Christ of different types and sizes; you can also find out a lot of interesting information about the images of Christ that are kept in Mexican churches, and about the miracles that are associated with them.