El Real de la Jara

Vía de la Plata

SevillaAndalucía

Compound: real (from the Latin regalis, 'of the king' — royal camp or quarters) + de la Jara, in reference to the Mediterranean rockrose scrub (Cistus ladanifer, from the Greek kistos) that covers the range. 'The royal camp of the rockrose grove.'

The first element real, from the Latin regalis, in medieval Castilian designated both a royal military camp and a royal lodging in transit. Here it probably alludes to a documented camp of Alfonso XI during the campaigns against the Marinids around 1340. The second element, jara, is the common noun for the Cistus family —⁠Cistus ladanifer (gum rockrose), Cistus albidus (grey-leaved rockrose), Cistus salviifolius⁠—⁠, drought-resistant Mediterranean shrubs characteristic of southern peninsular ranges. The name jara is among the few peninsular Arabisms that replaced Latin cistus: from Andalusian Arabic šaʿrāʾ, 'thick scrub'. The gum rockrose, which covers the slopes with white flowers in spring and exudes an aromatic resin (labdanum, used in perfumery since antiquity), defines the municipal landscape. The medieval castle on the hill preserves the keep and an intact battlemented layout.

Evolution of the name

  1. real / jara medieval Castilian 13th century
  2. El Real de la Jara Castilian from the 14th century

Reflections, to the letter

The name comes from the rockrose (Cistus ladanifer) that blankets the hills around the town; in April and May the slopes turn white with its flowers. Snap off a shoot and rub it between your fingers: the sticky resin left behind is labdanum, a perfume base since ancient Egypt. The scent on your hand is, quite literally, the name of the place.

Languages of origin

Themes

Origin status

confirmed

Glossary

Arabism
A word or place name in Castilian, Portuguese or Catalan borrowed from Andalusian Arabic. The Peninsula preserves thousands: aceite, azúcar, almohada, alcázar, azulejo, Guadalquivir, Atalaia, Azofra, Azambuja.

Sources

  • Corriente, F. — Diccionario de arabismos
  • Corominas, J. — Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico

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Vía de la Plata

  1. ··· toward Santiago
  2. Villafranca de los Barros
  3. Los Santos de Maimona
  4. Zafra
  5. Calzadilla de los Barros
  6. Fuente de Cantos
  7. Monesterio
  8. El Real de la Jara
  9. Almadén de la Plata
  10. Castilblanco de los Arroyos
  11. Guillena
  12. Sevilla