A commemorative medal honoring *Luis de Camões*, composer of the "Lusiad," as a celebrator of Portuguese exploration and discovery


He is honored for celebrating new fields of Catholic missionary activity


His youth is full of romantic escapades, and this might be one; or it might be allegorical


Fighting in Morocco in the Battle of Ceuta in 1542, he loses an eye


In 1552 he wounds a courtier, and is imprisoned for a time


In the late 1560's he is shipwrecked near the Mekong River, but legendarily swims to shore clutching his manuscript


He meditates, seeing visions of his masterpiece


At length he completes the poem


He holds up the published book (1572) with a flourish; the right panel shows the cover design of the original edition


He reflects on the episodes described in his poem


As he reads aloud from his great work to his patron, King Sebastian, he joins the company of Cervantes, Dante, Tolstoi, Victor Hugo, Shakespeare and Sophocles


He dies in 1580, in Lisbon


He and his book span the globe



 

He becomes an enduring symbol of Portuguese identity and pride



Source of all the above commemorative medals: ebay, 2007-8

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