The Triumph of Science over Death

The Triumph of Science over Death, also known as Scientia, is a clay sculpture made by José Rizal as a gift to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt.^[1]

The Triumph of Science over Death
Latin: Scientia
Copy of the original sculpture on display at Rizal Shrine Museum in September 2024
The Triumph of Science over Death Show map of Manila The Triumph of Science over Death Show map of Metro Manila The Triumph of Science over Death Show map of Luzon The Triumph of Science over Death Show map of Philippines
Artist	José Rizal
Year	1890
Type	Sculpture
Medium	Clay
Location	Rizal Shrine Museum, Manila
Coordinates	14°35′40″N 120°58′11″E

The statue depicts a young, nude woman with flowing hair, standing on a skull while bearing a torch. The woman symbolizes the ignorance of humankind during the Dark Ages of history, while the torch she bears symbolizes the enlightenment science brings to the world. The woman stands atop a skull, a symbol of death, to signify the victory that humankind aims to achieve by conquering the bane of death through scientific advancement.^[1]

A replica of the sculpture in Alabang, Muntinlupa

The original sculpture is now displayed at the Rizal Shrine Museum at Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila.^[2] A large replica, made of concrete, stands in front of the Fernando Calderón Hall, which houses the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, inside the University of the Philippines Manila campus in Ermita, Manila.^[3][4] Another replica is found outside the old Department of Health's Biological Production Service (BPS) research facility in Muntinlupa and is sculpted by Genaro Sy-Changco.^[5] The facility is now incorporated into the expanded Festival Alabang.^[6]

The motif of the statue is also used by various medical associations in the Philippines as their symbol, the most notable of which is the Philippine College of Surgeons.^{[lower-alpha 1]}

See also

• Women in Philippine art

Notes

1. As depicted on the logo of Philippine College of Surgeons seen on their official newsletter^[7]

References

1. Reyes, Raquel A. G. (2008). Love, Passion and Patriotism: Sexuality and the Philippine Propaganda Movement, 1882 - 1892. NUS Press, National University of Singapore (2008). ISBN 9789971693565. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
2. Resurreccionn, Lyn (December 30, 2021). "1st 3D-printed statue in PHL gives tribute to Rizal as scientist". BusinessMirror. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
3. Castillo Llaneta, Celeste Ann (October 18, 2017). "Time, Space and UP Manila". University of the Philippines. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
4. Cabajar, Jai [@jaicabajar] (June 13, 2020). "The Triumph of Science over Death" (Tweet) – via Twitter. A replica of "The Triumph of Science over Death" AKA "Lady Med" By Jose Rizal, Calderon Hall, UP College of Medicine
5. Medina, RF (June 24, 2018). "This 94-Year-Old Art Deco Building Stands Right Beside A Mall". Real Living.com. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
6. "Global firm redesigns Festival Supermall around nature". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 18, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
7. "PCS 2021 77th Annual Clinical Congress" (PDF). Incisions. 41 (2). Philippine College of Surgeons. May–August 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2023.