A hermitage was constructed in the first half of the eleventh century at San Baudelio de Berlanga, which was situated along part of the frontier between Islamic and Christian lands. Its interior was transformed a century later, after Berlanga came under the control of an agent of Alfonso I, king of Aragon and Navarre, in 1129. Two cycles of vibrant wall paintings were created for the community of monks established there: scenes from the life of Christ were set on an upper level, while images of animals and hunting decorated the lower wall. The camel seems to have been associated with the lands of the Bible, but also with power, luxury, and the exotic.
