Santuari e spazi confessionali nell'Italia tardoantica

The cult of relics transformed the Late Antique Italian landscape, leading to the creation of extensive sanctuaries, such as those of Saints Peter, Paul, Erasmus, Alexander, Felix, Gennaro, and the Apostles. These sanctuaries spread in rural areas, usually along important roads, and became places of worship and articulated sanctuaries.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2021
Publisher: Archaeopress

The veneration of relics, fostered by influential figures such as Emperor Constantine, Pope Damasus, and bishops Ambrose of Milan and Paulinus of Nola, had a profound impact on the Late Antique Italian landscape, particularly in suburban areas. This cult led to the transformation of the physical landscape, resulting in the establishment of extensive sanctuaries. These sanctuaries were characterized by a combination of funerary and cultic buildings, service structures, pilgrims' lodgings, and monasteries. Some of the most significant sanctuaries, including those of Saints Peter in the Vatican, Paul on the Ostiense, Erasmus in Formia, Alexander in Nomentum, Felix in Cimitile, Gennaro in Naples, Felix in Venosa, Marcianus in Syracuse, and the Apostles in Concordia Sagittaria, gained immense popularity, attracting countless pilgrims and visitors. This popularity led to Jerome's famous phrase, "movetur urbs sedibus suis et currit ad martyrum tumulos," which emphasized the movement of people towards these revered sanctuaries.

Between the 5th and 6th centuries, the sanctuaries expanded beyond urban centers and into rural areas, often following major roads as documented by the site of San Canzian d'Isonzo. In Santuari e spazi confessionali nell'Italia tardoantica, the author delves into the evolution of loca sancta, examining the gradual transformation of venerated tombs into memorials, places of worship, and ultimately well-defined sanctuaries. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the hypogeal and subdial contexts, comparing the contexts of Rome with those of the rest of Italy for the first time.

The cult of relics played a significant role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape of Late Antique Italy, and the sanctuaries that emerged as a result of this devotion continue to hold a place of importance in the history and heritage of the region.

Weight: 988g
Dimension: 290 x 205 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789697544