The Poem of the CidOne of the greatest works of Spanish literature, this eight-hundred-year-old saga narrates the legendary exploits of the soldier-adventurer Ruy Díaz of Bivar, known as El Cid—“the Lord”—and his part in the long struggle between Christianity and Islam. The poem recounts the adventures of a broad cast of characters: the Cid; his peerless steed, Babieca, and his two famous swords, Colada and Tizón; his wife, Doña Ximena, and his two daughters, Doña Elvira and Doña Sol, who found sanctuary with Abbot Don Sancho in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña during the Cid’s exile; and the black-hearted princes of Carrión, Diego and Fernando González. This powerful epic sings of universal human values and failures, loyalty and betrayal. |
Common terms and phrases
Abengalbón Alcocer Aragón Arlanzón arms Babieca battle beard Behold Bishop Jerome Bivar boon booty Búcar Burgos Calatayud Castejón Castile Christian Cid Campeador Cid Don Rodrigo Cid Ruy Díaz Cid the Campeador Cid’s Colada Count García Count Ramón court cried Cullera daugh Diego Diego González Doña Elvira Doña Sol Doña Ximena Elvira and Doña Félix Muñoz Fernando González García Ordóñez give happy hour girded Hear heart honor horses hour was born hundred knights hundred marks Jalón King Alfonso King of Morocco King’s kiss his hands ladies lance land of Valencia lands of Carrión leave Martín Antolínez Minaya Alvar Fáñez Moorish Moors mounted Muño Gustioz noble Pedro Bermúdez pleased Poem Princes of Carrión Ramón Menéndez Pidal Raquel and Vidas rejoiced replied rich ride rión rode San Esteban sons-in-law spoils spoke spurred sword tarry tell tents thank Tizón Valencia vassals war horses wedding