Geographies and Worldviews in Martyrologies and Synaxaries

The hagiographical compendia of the Middle Ages of martyrologies, synaxaries and prologues were by no means merely liturgical aids. As is generally recognised today, they were also pious historical and encyclopaedic works with the enormous number of people, institutions, places etc. mentioned in them. They reflected the world knowledge of their time, they had an impact on the world with their knowledge and often translated foreign worlds into their own.

Dom Jacques Dubois suggested as early as 1978 that the study of martyrologies should be expanded to include geography; however, his call went largely unheard. For this reason, the workshop "The world view of synaxaries and martyrologies" aims to take up and expand on Dubois' idea.

The main aim of the workshop is to discuss how the various compendia from different regions were able to shape the geographical resonance space of the Christian world. This includes questions about the various spatial references created in the texts, be it through narrated journeys, through the (usually rather spartan) literarisation of cities and landscapes or through narrative spatial arrangements of all kinds.

In addition, the workshop also offers space to discuss other aspects of worldview formation through the joint synchronous or individual reading of the martyrologies etc..

One of the central point’s here is to compare structurally and content-wise similar texts and their compilers and audiences and their impact in different Christian cultures.

Programme

Termin:
17.07.2024, 09:30 - 17.07.2024
Veranstalter:
Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie
Veranstaltungsort:
55116 Mainz
Straße:
Ludwig-Lindenschmit-Forum 1