Story Archive

Smile with Satan

According to local legend, a 12-year-old girl tricked the devil into building the famous aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. Artist José Antonio Abella created a bronze statue as a tribute to the story, but about 10 percent of the city’s population have signed a petition for the project to be canceled: they think the Prince of Darkness looks too “jovial.” The petition says the likeable Lucifer taking a selfie “exalts evil,” is “offensive to Catholics, and Satan should be depicted as “repulsive and despicable — not kind and seductive, like that of the ‘good natured devil’ without malice.” A judge put the project on hold while he determines if it’s offensive to Christians. (MS/BBC) ...Spain: religious fundamentalists are angry about a smile. America: religious fundamentalists would be angry about uncovered genitals.