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The
rooster (galo) is possibly the most brightly coloured
and significant unofficial symbols in
Portugal, if you
are visiting in a tourist nature.
Barcelos is a town in
Northern Portugal, from which the story emanates. The
story, which s apparently as old as the hills and has no
true source tells the story of justice being served.
A nobleman, living in
Barcelos, on finding his Silver cutlery stolen, accuses
one of his houses guests. The guest is then dragged
through the market to the local court to be tried,
inspite of the overwhelming evidence to man's innocence.
The magistrate at the
court, sees the man accused, the apparent innocence of
the man held up in court and provides him with one last
opportunity to prove his case.
As legend tells it the
accused spied a cock (galo) in a basket and said: 'If I
am innocent, let the cock crow.'
Crow the
cock did and the man was released without charge. This
is the simple story of the Cock of Barcelos. |
