Photo Gallery CONGONHAS (MG): Passion of Christ

In front of Santuário Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, there are six small chapels that contain 66 wooden sculptures in total. They represent the passion of Christ: Last Supper – Olive Garden – Imprisonment Castigation – Carrying the Cross – Crucifixion

Photo Gallery CONGONHAS (MG): The Twelve Prophets

In front of Santuário Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, there are twelve soap stone statues of prophets. They were sculpted by Brazilian artist Aleijadinho, between 1795 an 1805. The twelve prophets (names in Portuguese) are: Amos – Joel – Ezequiel – Isaías – Jonas – Abdias – Daniel – Jeremias – Naum – Habacuc – Oséias – Baruc
_______________________________________ 01 PROPHET AMOS Amós, who lived in the eighth century B.C., was one of the earliest prophets. He was chosen to warn the Israeli people of the impending doom that was awaiting them.
_________________________________________ 02 PROPHET JOEL Not much is known about Joel. The book of Joel is the second of the twelve minor prophets. His prophecies are about locust plagues.
_________________________________________ 03 PROPHET EZEKIEL Ezequiel (‘strong is God’) lived during the Babylonian Exile. His prophecies are about the destruction of Jerusalem, the fall of the rulers, and the arrival of the Messiah.
_________________________________________ 04 PROPHET ISAIAH Isaias (‘God is salvation’) probably belonged to a rich family. He is considered as one of the most influential prophets, since he predicted the arrival of the Messiah. Isaiah was married with a prophetess, and died a martyr’s death.
_________________________________________ 05 PROPHET JONAH Jonas (‘dove’) is described in the Bible as well in the Quran. His Book tells about God’s order to Jonah to travel to the by Assyrians dominated city of Ninivé. Jonas refused, he was swallowed by a whale, survived it, and fulfilled God’s order thereafter.
_________________________________________ 06 PROPHET OBADIAH Abdias (‘servant of God’) was born near the actual city of Nablus. His Book is the shortest of the Prophecies. His prophecies were directed against Edom, which people were traditional enemies of Israel.
_________________________________________ 07 PROPHET DANIEL Daniel (‘God is my judge’) was a Jew who was transferred in exile to Babylonia. His wisdom provided Daniel superior administrative positions. However, thanks to jealous officials, Daniel was thrown in a lion’s den, from which he was rescued by an angel.
_________________________________________ 08 PROPHET JEREMIAH Jeremias (‘God exalts’) is considered as one of the major prophets. His prophecies were about the destruction of Jerusalem and the invasion of the Babylonians. His works were rewritten by his disciple Baruch.
_________________________________________ 09 PROPHET NAHUM Naum (the ‘comforter’) was the seventh of the ‘minor prophets’. Naum predicted the fall of the city of Ninive.
_________________________________________ 10 PROPHET HABAKKUK Habacuc (the “beloved”) is the eighth of the twelve minor prophets. Habacuc’s prophecies are about the rise and fall of the Chaldeans, the rulers of the Israelites.
_________________________________________ 11 PROPHET HOSEA Oséias (Hosea, ‘God saves’) was a contemporary of Isaiah and is one of the Minor Prophets. The book tells about God who forced Hosea to marry a prostitute.
_________________________________________ 12 PROPHET BARUCH Baruc (‘the blessed’) was a pupil of the great prophet Jeremiah. He and Jeremiah were witnesses of the Babylonian dominance of Jerusalem. They escaped to Egypt, where Baruch died. Baruch copied Jeremiah’s prophecies, when they were burned.
	By Dr. Adriano Antoine Robbesom

Historical Minas Gerais: CONGONHAS: The Twelve Prophets VII: Daniel

Congonhas, MG
The 12 Prophets: Daniel

(Click here for the complete overview of ‘Historical Minas Gerais’)

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Congonhas is a small historical city at 75 km south of Belo Horizonte, along the ‘Estrada Real’ to Rio de Janeiro. The city is well known for the statues of Brazilian artist Aleijadinho.
The prophets by Aleijadinho: prophet  Daniel.

Daniel (‘God is my judge’) was a Jew who was transferred in exile to Babylonia. His wisdom provided Daniel superior administrative positions. However, thanks to jealous officials, Daniel was thrown in a lion’s den, from which he was rescued by an angel. 

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The prophets (with clickable links),from left to right (names in Portuguese):

Amos – Joel – Ezequiel – Isaías – Jonas – Abdias – Daniel – Jeremias – Naum – Habacuc – Oséias – Baruc

Complete photo gallery

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Lion’s den

Statues of twelve prophets carved from soap stone are located in frond of Santuário do Bom Jesus Matosinhos. Aleijadinho had sculpted them between 1795 and 1805.

Daniel (“God is my judge”) is considered as a prophet by the Christians: a Bible Book is named after him. However, according to the Jews, Daniel is not a prophet. Daniel was a Jew, who was transported in exile to Babylonia, by king   Nebukadnezar II. He was imprisoned, together with three friends, and he wanted to continue with his Jewish principles. He refused to accept food that was devoted to idols; he only ate vegetables and drank water.

The wisdom of Daniel and his friends did not remain unnoticed by the Assyrian king and his magicians. Also his acquired ability to interpret dreams, gained admirers at the court. From the Persian conqueror of Babylonia, Darius the Great, Daniel obtained the important official functions: governor of Babylonia and even head of the governors. His fellow officials became very jealous and their conspiracy made Daniel be thrown in the lion’s den. There he was rescued by an angel, sent by God.  

With time, Daniel had more visions: among them are the prediction of the end of the Jewish exile, the arrival of Jesus, His crucifixion, and the End of Times. 

Where is his tomb?

Almost nothing is known about Daniel’s life after the rescue from the Lion’s den, and about his death. It is known that he was a prophet at advanced age, and that he had become more than 100 years old, according do certain calculations. It still remains the question where his tomb is located. At least six locations claim to have his remains: Babylon, Kirkuk, and Muqdadiyah in Iraq, Susa and Malamir in Iran, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

On the shield that Daniel is holding, one can read the following motto:

“Speléo Inclu/

Sus (Sic Rege/

Jubente) Leo/

Num, Numinis/

Auxilio, Liberor/

Incolumis./

Daniel/

Cap.6″.

(“Encerrado (por ordem do rei) na cova dos leões, sou libertado incólume, com o auxílio de Deus. Cap.6”).

((On the authority of the king) I was thrown in the lion’s den; I was saved with God’s help)

  

Statue

Like Abdias and Baruc, Daniel is depicted without a beard. But he differs significantly from these two prophets, concerning his hair, eyes, mouth, and the big nose with the nostrils wide open. His face has an aristocratic expression as of a high official.  Daniel wears a miter on his head, surrounded with a laurel wreath, symbolizing his victory against the lions. Daniel wears a long tunic, with a belt that is knotted to the collar. A lion, depicted as a pet, sits at one of his feet. This sculpture consists of one piece of soap stone. Undoubtedly, this statue has been completely sculpted by master Aleijadinho, and is considered as one of the masterpieces of the twelve statues.   

  

Sources:
Congonhas site
Study project Congonhas
Bible Gateway

DANIEL

The book of Daniel

REFUGEES AND THEIR DILEMMAS

Daniel in the lion’s den

By Dr. Adriano Antoine Robbesom

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