La cripta anulare di San Vincenzo Maggiore nel contesto dell’architettura di epoca carolingia
Caroline Goodson
This article re-examines the annular crypt of S. Vincenzo Maggiore , part late eighth-/early ninth-century abbey church al Volturno in light forms and functions such structures period. The years eighth early ninth century witnessed major transformations practice relic veneration church-building. Some these changes are best understood struggles to power Carolingian, Lombard papal principalities. chronology, function a suggestion importance monastery is thus explained as manifestation abbey’s acquisition relics from Muslim Spain triumphant projection spiritual political authority gained thereby. By correlating for first time textual archaeological evidence local patterns cult buildings central Italy at this time, I can show that Vincenzo, corporeal it housed, were highly unusual area. argue specific form way which made visible, but also enclosed protected, conveyed explicitly presence saint’s relics. was placed devotion monks, especially abbots who painted eternal relic, bold claim particular kind saint veneration, desirably Carolingians practiced by Romans.