A Morbid Efflorescence: Envisaging the Afterlife in the Carolingian Period
Richard Mathew Pollard
The Carolingian period (750–900) was a time of exceptional cultural and intellectual vitality that saw the production many new works, included amongst these were visions or voyages to afterlife. Following earlier example Wilhelm Levison, scholars like Paul Dutton Claude Carozzi have hitherto considered texts mainly in light their supposed political aims, often critique policies behaviour prominent ecclesiastical figures. While this perspective is not invalid, it tends obscure other interesting elements found afterlife accounts from era. This chapter explores two: first all, use vision stake out positions on important doctrinal questions, particularly arguing for against efficacy intercessory prayer, even offering collective solutions case latter; second, are innovative inclusion women roles time. truth world – more feminine fractious than we might think darkly reflected its otherworld.
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