Monument to cat, victim to the Inquisition
Apologies to animals for human cruelty
At first there was only an idea...
The creative team Triora Project presents the international project Grand Pardon. The purpose of our project is to install a symbolic monument to Cat, victim of the Inquisition. And in this manner to memorize all the tortured and burned pets which shared their masters’ lot. We will install a monument to a CAT which become a victim of the Inquisition. It’s a monument to all the animals, which were tortured, burned and killed by people because of their obscure ideas, their cruelty and fear of themselves. No one cat, no one dog or goat have ever betrayed their masters. Let our monument stop the senseless cruelty and enmity of people toward the animals. And let the cats forgive us the sins of the Inquisition! Everyone may come here, come up, look up at the cat with the eyes of a creature which is smaller in size, mentally apologize for the sins of humanity. In all the languages we will write: Forgive us!
The cat, victim of the Inquisition
The Inquisition, apart from poor men, women and their children, almost invariably put forward accusations to their domestic pets.
The fate of the human victims nearly almost was shared at the burning stake by their so called “witch companions”: cats, dogs, donkeys, oxen, geese and even mice, crows and frogs. There were also suspected of connections with the devil, and they were tortured, made confess witchcraft. In most of the cases, the victims were the cats, exactly due to their particular loyalty to their masters. That’s why, in our opinion, the monument should be dedicated precisely to Cat.
Quite recently the Catholic Church made apologies for the Inquisition’s atrocities toward the human victims, but who will make apologies to our lesser brothers? It’s a rhetorical question, but there is a definite answer to it. These apologies are not needed to the animals who pardon us always and for everything. They are needed to ourselves, as a reminder of our everlasting cruelty and ignorance. Yes, the times of the Inquisition and the centuries of witch hunt are long passed but have we become less stupid and cruel to those who are near us? To those who love us without any particular reasons, just for what we are?
The cat and dog are animals but they are also friends, they are amazing creatures, which make our lives better. No cat has ever had an idea to torture a man. Why should we do it? Who gave us this right?
This symbolic and modern idea should, in our opinion, be associated with the monument which we want to install in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, in the Alpine Italian city of Triora, on the Mediterranean coast.
Triora è un borgo delle streghe
The legendary Triora is a little ancient town in the northwest of Italy, close to the French border. The place is remarkable for one Italy’s greatest witch trials held in 1587-1589.
Triora is a medieval town of incredible beauty: the Italian Alps, high cliffs, behind them – snowy mountain tops. And there – beyond those hills – the Mediterranean sea, it’s only twenty minutes ride. This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Triora is surrounded by beautiful forests where you can meet wild boars, deer and roe deer, martens, foxes and wolves, eagles soar against the background of unique mountain landscapes. This is a place of special natural beauty and rich traditions.
In all guides the modern Triora is called “The Town of Witches”, tourists come to have a look at the Museum of Witchcraft and the Witches’ Path.
In the historical context, you can read in detail the materials of the investigation of the Inquisition. You can walk along the Alpine trails, inhaling the aromas of lavender, thyme, pine trees.
On a mountain in Triora, over the valley Argentina running to the sea, we want to install a 3-meter cat, which will rise over the man, condescendingly and lovingly looking from above and pardoning for all and forever.
The opening of the monument in the old part of Triora in June 2023
The monument IL GATTO DI TRIORA by Elena Rede is of great importance. The monument will be installed on a ledge of a 800-meter mountain at the so called Witches’ Path. It will be visible from very far, at a distance of several kilometers. Let our monument bring luck to everybody and stop the senseless cruelty and enmity of people toward the animals. Everyone may come here, come up, look up at the cat with the eyes of a creature which is smaller in size, mentally apologize for the sins of humanity. A three-meter cat majestically towers over a man, forgiving us for our sins