The essay analyzes some early medieval hagiografical texts from central Italy in order to highlight to what extent their authors (especially Gregory the Great) had recognised the efficacy of the biblical "food language". This linguistic code proves to be particularly appropriate to make a polished parallelism: while the hagiographers recount the food miracles performed by the saints, they teach that the salvation of the phisical body, superficial target of these miracles, is subordinate to the salvation of the soul. As Jesus himself had said («I am the bread of life»), first of all food is nourishment for the spirit, in the eternity, and secondly for the stomach, on a daily basis.
Cibo e miracoli nella letteratura agiografica altomedievale (VI-VII sec.)
MARASCHI, ANDREA
2013
Abstract
The essay analyzes some early medieval hagiografical texts from central Italy in order to highlight to what extent their authors (especially Gregory the Great) had recognised the efficacy of the biblical "food language". This linguistic code proves to be particularly appropriate to make a polished parallelism: while the hagiographers recount the food miracles performed by the saints, they teach that the salvation of the phisical body, superficial target of these miracles, is subordinate to the salvation of the soul. As Jesus himself had said («I am the bread of life»), first of all food is nourishment for the spirit, in the eternity, and secondly for the stomach, on a daily basis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
