The Colossus of Barletta
The first mention of the existence of an enormous bronze statue in Barletta dates back to 1309. Commonly known as Eraclio and in the local dialect as “Are”. The identification of the aforementioned Byzantine Emperor, has been absolutely excluded and is more probable that it is another Emperor from the east, Theodore II. The oldest theory is the existence of the Colossus in Barletta has its origins in the 16th century and it was written about by a Jesuit priest who wrote that it was thrown onto the beach of Barletta by a Venetian boat on its way back from Bisanzio after the plundering of 1204. For numerous reasons this theory has also been excluded , while it is probable that it was transported to Puglia on the orders of the Svevo Emperor Frederick, in order to enrich the cultural life of the time. The statue is 4.50 metres high swamped in late Roman and Byzantine Emperors’ clothes, made evident by the tiara with the imperial crown on it and the uniform of a military leader of high rank. They met the Colossus crying noisily in the path, the enemy asked it why it was crying, it replied that being smaller and weaker than its fellow citizens, including the children too, no one wanted to play with it. |