Furta sacra : thefts of relics in the central Middle Ages / Patrick J. Geary.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Geary, Patrick J., 1948-

Series:

Princeton paperbacks

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Theft of relics--Europe.

Theft of relics.

Social history--Medieval, 500-1500.

Social history.

Relics--Europe.

Relics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (211 pages)

Edition:

Rev. Ed.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, c1990.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

To obtain sacred relics, medieval monks plundered tombs, avaricious merchants raided churches, and relic-mongers scoured the Roman catacombs. In a revised edition of Furta Sacra, Patrick Geary considers the social and cultural context for these acts, asking how the relics were perceived and why the thefts met with the approval of medieval Christians.

Contents:

I. Relics And Saints In The Central Middle Ages. Relics As Symbol ; Between Hagiography And History ; The Evolution Of Saints' Cults In The Central Middle Ages

II. The Cult Of Relics In Carolingian Europe. Relic Cults To The Ninth Century ; The Nature Of Relics ; Carolingian Reform And The Cult Of Relics

III. The Professionals. The Italian Trade ; England ; Conclusions

IV. Monastic Thefts. Monastic Competition ; Financing Construction ; Rival Local Traditions ; Evolution Of Religious Sentiment ; Lay Encroachment ; Conclusion

V. Urban Thefts. "Translatio Sancti Marci" ; "Translatio Sancti Nicolai" ; "Vita Sancti Appiani"

VI. Justifications. Legality Of Relic Thefts ; Rationalizations ; The Formation Of A Literary Tradition ; Perception ; Sacred History And Communal Pride

VII. Conclusions

Appendix A. Critique Of Texts: I. "Translatio Beati Vincentii" ; II. "Translatio Sanctae Fidei" ; III. "Translatio Sanctae Faustae" ; IV. "Translatio Sancti Mariani"

Appendix B. Handlist Of Relic Thefts.

Notes:

"Princeton paperbacks"-- Back cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 185-209) and index.

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

9786613135704

9781400820207

1400820200

9781283135702

1283135701

OCLC:

731646708