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[www0935]

Please help me with the word, "Consistory" in the following sentence.

[quote]After the refusal of the Consistory of Barcelona, Eiffel submitted his draft to those responsible for the Universal Exhibition in Paris, where he would build his tower a year later, in 1889.[/quote]

What does "Consistory" mean here? Is it the same as "Congress" or "Parliament"? Or is it just a religious court? What is its function?

Thanks for your help.

[Suzanne]

Hi,

The Consistory of Barcelona was originally a literary council, not a religious one. Over time, it became like a Town Council or a city government. That's why it turned down Eiffel's design; the Consistory didn't think it would fit with Barcelona's plans.

Interestingly, in 2004, the Consistory of Barcelona also declared that it would not allow bullfighting in the city.

I hope this helps!

[www0935]

Dear Suzanne,
Thanks for your answer. I got it. But would you please tell me
what "literary court" is? What does it serve as? Thanks again.

[pugachevV]

Consistory In the Roman Catholic Church it isthe council of cardinals, with or without the Pope.

In the Church of England it is a court presided over by a bishop, for the administration of ecclesiastical law in a diocese. (Also called a consistory court).
In other churches it is a local administrative body.
So, in Barcelona it is probably the first example.

[Suzanne]

It's true that usually a Consistory is religious, but the Consistory of Barcelona was based on poetry and literature.

Here's what Wikipedia says:

The Consistori (de la Gaya Sci�ncia) de Barcelona ("Academy of the Gay Science") was a literary academy founded in Barcelona by John the Hunter, King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona, in 1393 in imitation of the Consistori del Gay Saber founded at Toulouse seventy years earlier (1323). The poetry produced by and for the Consistori was heavily influenced by the troubadours.[1] The Consistori's chief purpose was to promote "correct" styles and themes and discourage vices (vicis) by awarding prizes in competition to poets who adhered to the "rules" of poetic composition. The names of few poets laureate have come down to us and despite some excellent descriptions of the Consistori's activities, associated persons and poems are obscure.

[pugachevV]

As Eiffel was submitting a design for a tower, it seems that by the late 1800's the consistory had progressed from its concerns about literature and poetry to that of a local administrative body.

[Suzanne]

I agree! It became more of a City/Government Council. That's whoat it is today.
Thanks for your clarification!