In The News

History Pieces

9/20/2011 4:23:00 PM

   Our Saladin Statue!

Guarding the gates of Saracen Estates and greeting visitors on the entrance decking, is our statue of Saladin on his horse.

With the strong combination of horse and warrior already in use for the wine branding, the Saraceni's presented a photo of Saladin on the horse to the Bronze & Marble Gallery.

A tribe of Saladin's were then made for the gates, island and water feature by the cellar door of which portraits our real life logo and branding today.

According to artistic legend, a horse with only one hoof up depicts that the rider was injured in battle.  If the horse was reared with two hooves up, this would mean the rider died in battle.  Our statue has one hoof up which means Saladin was injured in battle.  We know that Saladin was very ill in his last days and eventually died of a fever in 1193.

A virtuous and generaous man, Saladin's generosity followed him to his grave.  He couldn't even afford his own funeral for giving all his riches away to charity and to his people.

Our Beautiful Wine Temple!

This unique space is dedicated to the history of wine, telling the story of that most precious commodity which has played such a special role both metaphorically and physically in the development of human kind.

A seemingly miraculous substance, it has been a vital element in human culture, and mirrors the civilising achievements of mankind.  Feared for its effects as a potent mind altering drug, while revered for its' power to augment life itself, from medical applications to the enhancement of human interaction, wine has been integral to human society.  It played a major practical role in the development of agrarian civilisation, but was also accorded magical and sacred powers because of its' mysterious components and enchanting effects.

The development of the science of molecular archaeology in recent years, principally by Professor Patrick McGovern and his team at the University Museum of Pennsylvania has opened extraordinarily exciting doors into the past, through which we can now trace the origins of viticulture and viniculture into prehistory, over 8,000 years ago.

Beginning with this Neolithic period, in the manner of stained glass windows in medieval cathedrals, the Temple of Wine artwork illustrates this narrative through selected major historical periods (Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Medieval) in symbolic form, incorporating explanatory text related to each era.

Our Wine Temple was created by Charles & Joan Smith from Smith Sculptors and eternal thanks goes out to them from the Saracen Estates family for their design and workmanship.

What's in a Name?

The term Saracen comes from Greek, derived from the Arabic word for Easterners. Romans first used the term Saracen to describe the nomadic Arab tribes of the Syro-Arabian Desert and the Saraceni name is very well known as a result of those conquering tribes who settled in various regions of Italy. The Saracens were considered one of the most culturally and socially advanced races during the 12th Centrury Crusades, excelling in all facets of art and responsible for some of the most significant mathematical discoveries in the world.

Saladin was a Sultan of Egypt and Syria and a great leader of the Saracens, who led the Islamic opposition to the Third Crusade in the 12th Century, eventually recapturing Palestine from Jerusalem. Despite his fierce struggle against the Crusades, Saladin achieved a great reputation in Europe as a chivalrous knight.

A very generous and virtuous man, Saladin's generosity followed him to his grave, unable to pay for his own funeral for giving away most of his riches to charity.

Saracen Estates and Maree Saraceni & family, support numerous charities with donations of wine and dining/entertaining experiences at Saracen Estates.

Charity organisations close to the Saracen Estates family are Alzheimers Australia, the Ear and Hearing Signs Institute, Blind Society WA, Youth Focus WA, the National Breast Cancer Foundation via the Wine for Dudes Wine Tours, and annual Pink Bubbles Day Wine Tour.