St. Barbara Statue

St. Barbara was a Christian virgin martyr who was ultimately sentenced to death and beheaded by her own father. Her legend then says that her father was struck by a bolt of lightning and died consumed by flame. Thus, St. Barbara is traditionally given patronage over those who work with explosives, including miners, artillerymen and engineers.  Due to her association with lightning and fire, Santeria syncretizes St. Barbara with Chango, the orisha of fire, lightning and thunder.  Her attributes of a crown and a sword are based on a vision of St. Barbara that St. Faustina received in 1937. The castle at her feet represents the tower in which her father imprisoned her before her martyrdom.  This cast resin statue stand 5" high.