“Give my scallop-shell of quiet, My staff of faith to walk upon, My scrip of joy, immortal diet, My bottle of salvation, My gown of glory, hope’s true gage; And thus I’ll take my pilgrimage.”

Walter Raleigh

The most iconic symbol of the Way of St. James is the scallop shell. Today, travelers wear a shell around their necks or backpacks to denote themselves as Pilgrims. Coupled with a yellow arrow, the shell is painted on walls, posts, markers, tiles, and sidewalks to point the Way to Santiago de Compostela.

The modern explanation of the shell’s symbolism is a metaphor; its many different lines stand for the many different routes that all merge at the town of Santiago de Comostela where St.James’ tomb is located at the Cathedral de Compostela. Historically, there are other myths, legends and stories.

One story says that after Jesus’ death, James went to the Galicia region to spread thet gospel and convert the people there. Upon his return to Jerusalem he was beheaded by King Herod. His body was then brought back to Iberia to be buried. Supposedly, a knight on horsetop standing on a cliff saw the boat carrying St. James. The horse bolted, and knight and horse fell into the water. St. James apparently intervened and saved the knight who rose from the ocean covered in scallop shells.

The shell is indigenous to the Galician coast where the town of Finisterre is located. It was considered to be the most western point in medieval times and therefore, the “end of the world.” Pilgrims at this time traveled for penance or religious devotion. After visitig the tomb, they traveled to the coast to collect a shell to carry back as proof of their trip. By the 12th century, shells were being sold by licensed vendors around the Cathedral.

Today, scallop shells and souvenirs with scallop shells can be purchased all along the Way.N“

Information and pictures gathered from: www.caminoways.com and www.followthecamino.com.

YouTube video on history of scallop shell’s symbolism: :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNqXfbSRO-s#action=share