Parc Güell: tortoise
by GAUDÍ, Antoni, Photo
Besides Christian symbols, Gaud� loved classical and oriental mythology. The salamander in the Parc G�ell, popularly known as “el drac” (the dragon), is thus a representation of Python, the guardian of the subterranean waters on the steps of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, while the frequent motif of a tortoise on the base of columns is a Chinese symbol of order in chaos.
The land tortoise was very common at that time throughout Catalonia.