This study addresses the controversial “arcas-de-arena” episode in the Cantar de Mio Cid. The usurious transaction between Mio Cid and the Jewish moneylenders Rachel and Vidas has led critics to interpret this scene in sundry ways. In this article, I provide overlooked textual evidence to argue that neither Mio Cid nor Martín Antolínez intends to honor the promise of repaying the moneylenders. Instead, they perceive the transaction as a deception from which they obtain a profit (“ganancia”). Mio Cid and Martín Antolínez feel entitled to cheat the Jews due to ever-increasing anti-Jewish sentiments prevalent during the time of the Cantar’s composition.Este estudio aborda el polémico episodio de las arcas de arena en el Cantar de Mio Cid. La transacción usuraria entre Mio Cid y los judíos prestamistas Rachel y Vidas ha llevado a los críticos a interpretar la escena de diversas maneras. En este artículo, analizo evidencia textual anteriormente ignorada para argüir que ni Mio Cid ni Martín Antolínez pensaban cumplir con la promesa contractual de pagar a los prestamistas. Al contrario, ellos perciben la transacción como un engaño del cual obtienen una “ganancia”. Mio Cid y Martín Antolínez se sienten con derecho de timar a los judíos debido a las tendencias antijudías prevalentes durante el tiempo de la composición del Cantar.This study addresses the controversial “arcas-de-arena” episode in the Cantar de Mio Cid. The usurious transaction between Mio Cid and the Jewish moneylenders Rachel and Vidas has led critics to interpret this scene in sundry ways. In this article, I provide overlooked textual evidence to argue that neither Mio Cid nor Martín Antolínez intends to honor the promise of repaying the moneylenders. Instead, they perceive the transaction as a deception from which they obtain a profit (“ganancia”). Mio Cid and Martín Antolínez feel entitled to cheat the Jews due to ever-increasing anti-Jewish sentiments prevalent during the time of the Cantar’s composition
