Devotional culture in early medieval Iberia was dominated by martyrs. With very few records of non-martyr saints, we are left to wonder what made martyrs such compelling figures. In this seminar, we will explore some of the ways martyrs were imagined and constructed in Iberia through a variety of different source types: theological, liturgical and musical. Placing the veneration of martyr saints in its historical context will allow us to address broader questions of its role in Christian-Muslim relations, cultural transfer across the Mediterranean, and the meaning of sanctity for medieval Christians.
Speakers:
Kati Ihnat (Radboud University Nijmegen)
Melanie Shaffer (Radboud University Nijmegen)
Cathrien Hoijinck (Radboud University Nijmegen)