The Pozo Airon of Granada: conflicts under the lights of the granadian enlightenment

Abstract

In 1778 the city of Granada was agitated by several earthquakes that worried the population. Directly related to the literature generated since the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 in the city numerous theories arise that seek to explain or justify such events; several of them pointed to the blindness of a well-known well —the pozo Airón— as a cause of the tremors. The local authorities decided to contact the Real Sociedad de Amigos del País de Granada, in search of help on the decision to reopen the well. The result was the publication of the text Dictamen sobre la utilidad, o inutilidad de la excavación del Pozo–Airón by the censor of the institution. This work gathered the previous scientific tradition and engaged in a direct conversation with the most popular beliefs at the time.