The shower of stars known as the Perseids or the Tears of San Lorenzo is a phenomenon that happens when the earth passes through the debris left behind by the tail of a comet.
But besides the scientific part, the Perseids have their mythological part, its origin is in the Greek and Catholic traditions.
What are the perseids?
From time to time, the translation movement of the Earth makes it pass through a field full of remnants of the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. These remains ignite and They produce shooting stars. A flash that doesn't even last a second and is exactly what we can see from Earth when we look at the sky. To better understand this phenomenon, you can read more about the Shooting Stars.
When can the Perseids be seen?
This shower of shooting stars can be seen every year around the middle of August. Specifically a few days after August 10, the day on which a festival is held around the martyrdom of the Saint. Hence the name "Tears of San Lorenzo".
The origin of the Tears of San Lorenzo in Catholicism
San Lorenzo was one of the seven regional deacons of Rome. There are many who place the birth of the saint in Huesca, although others place it in Valencia or Tarragona. He would be ordained a deacon with the appointment of Sixtus as Pope. This is why he is patron saint of Deacons. He was in charge of administering the goods of the Church and caring for the poor, in these tasks he is considered one of the first archivists and treasurers that existed and that is why he is patron saint of librarians.
Es one of the most revered saints of christianity and churches and monasteries such as San Lorenzo de El Escorial, in Madrid, have been erected in his honor.
Legend has it that among all the treasures guarded by San Lorenzo, was the Holy Grail and that he managed to send it to Huesca to protect it. Some time later Lorenzo's parents would arrive in Valencia because of the persecutions and where he still remains today.
martyrdom of saint lawrence
when the emperor Valerian forbade Christian worship, as well as the persecution of whoever carried it out or met in the cemeteries many bishops and priests were sentenced to death. Notable victims of Valerian would be the Popes Stephen I and Sixtus II, Bishop Cipriano de Carthage and, of course, the deacon San Lorenzo.
"Martyrdom of San Lorenzo" Prado Museum
It is said that the deacon Lorenzo found Pope Sixtus on his way to martyrdom and I ask him: «Where are you going, dear father, without your son? Where are you rushing, holy father, without your deacon? You never set up the sacrificial altar without your servant before, and now you want to do it without me? The pope replied in what seemed like a prophecy: "in three days you will follow me".
Three days later, in Rome, while the saint was being burned alive on a grill, he said: "Turn me around, because on this side I am already done." The tears that she shed, says the legend, are the stars that in the following nights they would fall from the sky in continual remembrance of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. This took place on August 10.
Every year on that date, the Vatican City exposes a reliquary with the head of the saint to receive veneration. He is the third patron saint of the city of Rome.
The origin of the Perseids in Greek mythology
The Greek tradition tells that Perseus is the son of the god Zeus and the nymph Danae. Zeus, famous for his numerous love affairs, fell in love with the beautiful nymph, but in order to reach her he had to metamorphose since she was confined in a room. The god decided to take the form of a shining rain. In this way he was able to father Perseus.
growing up, Perseus was involved in the Cassiopeia story. The queen of the Ethiopians was a very beautiful woman, so much so that she was said to be prettier than the Nereids, the daughters of the sea and considered one of the most beautiful creatures in existence. Poseidon was enraged when he found out and sent Ceto, a sea monster to punish Cassiopeia.
Fearing that the monster would destroy Ethiopia, the kings consulted the oracle who told them that they should calm the wrath of the god by sacrificing his daughter. Andromeda ended up chained to a rock as a sacrifice.
At that moment, Perseus who was sailing could hear the screams of the young woman. He fell in love with her, and how he came from killing the Gorgon, he used her head to petrify Ceto and save Andromeda. Later he would marry her.
"Perseus and Andromeda" Pierre Minyar 1679
Perseus would be immortalized in the sky as a constellation, and around this constellation are the Perseids, the shower of shooting stars. Hence this rain receives the name of Perseids. The constellation of Perseus is that of a warrior since he was a classical hero and here we have related one of his feats.