If you’ve ever wandered through the streets of Palma and stumbled upon “Carrer de Nuredduna”, you might have wondered, “Who exactly was Nuredduna?” This evocative name is more than just a street sign — it’s a nod to one of Mallorca’s most fanciful literary creations, brought to life in Miquel Costa i Llobera’s epic 1901 poem “La deixa del geni grec” (The Legacy of the Greek Genius).
Set in prehistoric Mallorca, here is a tale brimming with drama, love, and betrayal, centered around the priestess Nuredduna. A deeply spiritual and intuitive woman, she finds herself on the frontlines of a clash of civilizations when Greek adventurers arrive on the island, near Pollença, bringing with them new customs, beliefs, and, perhaps most importantly, art. Among them is Melesigeni, a Homer-like, lyre-strumming poet.
Nuredduna’s people seize the interlopers and imprison them in the Caves of Artà. Her grandfather, the tribal chief, decrees that they must be ritually sacrificed to the Mallorcan gods at the Talaiotic site now known to us as Ses Païsses.
As Nuredduna gets to know the captive Melesigeni, she becomes increasingly fascinated by his artistic nature and the world he represents. It’s not long before Nuredduna is drawn into a whirlwind of emotions, torn between her duty as a priestess and her affection for the mysterious Greek.
In a bold and heart-wrenching decision, Nuredduna chooses love over tradition, helping Melesigeni escape and set sail for his homeland. But her act of compassion is seen as treason by her people. In a brutal turn of events, she is stoned by the very community she served. Barely clinging to life, Nuredduna drags herself to the cave, where she finds Meligeni’s lyre—symbolizing the artistry and new ideas that the Greeks have left behind. There, her tragic journey comes to its poignant end.
Nuredduna’s legacy, much like her tragic tale, lives on. Today, there’s a sculpture of her on Palma’s Passeig Marítim and her name graces not only streets and buildings in Mallorca but even a 1947 opera and… an asteroid! Yes, the asteroid (16852) Nuredduna carries her name, a fitting tribute to a figure.
So next time you find yourself on Carrer de Nuredduna, remember the story of the brave priestess who, torn between the old ways and the allure of the unknown, chose to defy tradition for love and art. It’s a piece of Mallorca’s rich cultural tapestry, woven into the very streets we walk today.
