Acquisition of deepened and detailed knowledge of remarkable questions of the history of the ancient Christianity, analyzing sources of different typology and facing the historiographical debate. Acquisition of the scientific tools of search and of the necessary methodological principles for reading the sources. Ability to express and to communicate in form clear autonomous judgments on the analyzed matters.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
>(BHL7543), REA LIII 2007, pp.267-293; Idem,
C. Lanéry, Nouvelles recherches d’hagiographie arnobienne: la Passion de Cècile (BHL 1495), in << Parva pro magnis munera>>. Études de littèrature tardo-antique et mèdiévale offertes à François Dolbeau par ses élèves, Turnhout 2009, pp.533-559
Programme
Course Title:Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
Core Documentation
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018.G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
Reference Bibliography
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018 H. Delehaye, Cinq leçon sur la méthode agiographique, Bruxelles 1934 (Subsidia Hagiographica 21) H. Delehaye, Étude sur le légendier romain. Les saint de novembre et de décembre, Bruxelles 1936 (Subsidia hagiographica 23) H. Delehaye, Les passions des martyrs et les genres littéraires, Société des Bollandistes, Bruxelles, 1966 (2° ed.) C. Lanéry , Arnobe le jeune et la <Type of delivery of the course
Course attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended. During the lessons, there will be methods to assess the profit through the interaction between teacher and students and the elaboration of a short paper.Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. The instructor will provide attending students with all teaching materials and recorded lectures.Type of evaluation
The final exam will be oral. For attending students, the evaluation of the written paper and active participation in the interdisciplinary seminar will contribute to the final grade teacher profile teaching materials
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
>(BHL7543), REA LIII 2007, pp.267-293; Idem,
C. Lanéry, Nouvelles recherches d’hagiographie arnobienne: la Passion de Cècile (BHL 1495), in << Parva pro magnis munera>>. Études de littèrature tardo-antique et mèdiévale offertes à François Dolbeau par ses élèves, Turnhout 2009, pp.533-559
Programme
Course Title:Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
Core Documentation
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018.G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
Reference Bibliography
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018 H. Delehaye, Cinq leçon sur la méthode agiographique, Bruxelles 1934 (Subsidia Hagiographica 21) H. Delehaye, Étude sur le légendier romain. Les saint de novembre et de décembre, Bruxelles 1936 (Subsidia hagiographica 23) H. Delehaye, Les passions des martyrs et les genres littéraires, Société des Bollandistes, Bruxelles, 1966 (2° ed.) C. Lanéry , Arnobe le jeune et la <Type of delivery of the course
Course attendance is not mandatory but highly recommended. During the lessons, there will be methods to assess the profit through the interaction between teacher and students and the elaboration of a short paper.Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended. The instructor will provide attending students with all teaching materials and recorded lectures.Type of evaluation
The final exam will be oral. For attending students, the evaluation of the written paper and active participation in the interdisciplinary seminar will contribute to the final grade