Article
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The Bellvm Africvm and the construction of the image of Julius Caesar Imperator
Michele Eduarda Brasil de Sá
Original title: O Bellvm Africvm e a construção da imagem do Imperator Júlio César
Published in The chivalry and the art of war in the Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Bellum Africum, Julius Caesar, imperator.
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Redemption Theology in Mystical Convent Drama: “The Already and the Not Yet” in Hildegard of Bingen’s Ordo virtutum and Marcela de San Félix’s Breve festejo
Alisa J. TIGCHELAAR
Original title: A Teologia da Redenção no Drama do Mosteiro Místico: “O já e o ainda não” no Ordo virtutum de Hildegarda de Bingen e no Breve Festejo de Marcela de San Félix
Published in Emotions in the Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean World
Keywords: Convent, Hildegard of Bingen, Marcela de San Felix, Mysticism, Redemption theology.
This study most centrally explores the distinctly corporeal divinity that is revealed through mystical paradigms in two plays by female religious: Hildegard of Bingen’s (1098-1179) Ordo virtutum and a play convincingly attributed to Marcela de san Félix (1605-87), Breve festejo que se hizo para nuestra Madre priora y a alegrar la comunidad la noce de los reyes deste año 1653. It highlights and analyzes the fact that, in both plays, various triadic relationships point to the essential presence of the second person of the Trinity in the mystical Godhead. The central argument is that a particularly Christocentric mystical divinity has theological connotations which bear investigation against the general problematization of the corporeal element in the mystical relational and theological economy through the seventeenth century. The paper articulates why a particularly human mystical divinity might have been undervalued in the Christian practice of mysticism from Medieval times onward, and exegetes why the bias toward transcendence over immanence in mysticism might even be regarded as theologically incomplete in the light of (Catholic) Christian redemption theology. It ends by showing how the “already and not yet” is alluded to in both plays, and draws some relevant theological conclusions which stand in answer to the transcendent deity usually privileged in mysticism, hearkening to other works by both Bingen and san Félix to substantiate the theology which can arguably be attributed to them. Along the way, relevant aspects of different understandings of emotions–among them the concept of the humors, the Aristotelian understanding of the relationship between the (Christian) virtues and the emotional realm, and the central role of eros in the mystical practice and the theological implications of the same–will be raised, according to the theme of this particular volume.
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Querimonia desolacionis terre sancte – The fall of Acre and the Holy Land in 1291 as an emotional element in the Tradition of Teutonic Order
Shlomo LOTAN
Original title: Querimonia desolacionis terre sancte – A perda de Acre e da Terra Santa em 1291 como um elemento emocional para a tradição da Ordem Teutônica
Published in Emotions in the Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean World
Keywords: Crusades, Fall of Acre 1291, Holy Land, Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Teutonic Order.
The fall of Acre to the Muslim forces in 1291 was one of the devastated events in the history of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. The fall of main Crusader city in fact the capitol of the Latin Kingdom, was the last military episode in long history of the Crusader resistance in the Holy Land. The fall of Acre had a decisive influence on the Christian population, the Church and the nobility throughout Europe. It created also a forceful impact on the Military Orders, affecting their capability and strength. This article will focus on one of the main Military Orders in the Holy Land - the Teutonic Order, and on the manner in which the fall of the Holy Land had influenced the empowering of its tradition. Major chronicles of the Teutonic Order, written in the first half of the fourteenth century by its brethren Peter von Dusburg and Nicolaus von Jeroschin show it clearly. This critical event in which the Teutonic Knights also participated is treated as a central event. Despite the time that elapsed from the fall of the Latin Kingdom and the long distance from the Teutonic fighting in the Baltic region, this crucial event in the Holy Land had become a symbol destined as a lament (Klage in German). This lament represented an emotional and sense of pain caused by the great loss the suffering associated with the fall of the Holy Land. This article will further accentuate the assertion that even among the members of the Teutonic Order within the borders of Christianity in the Baltic region, well separated from Christian activity in the Mediterranean basin, the fall of the Holy Land had been fundamental. It had dominated the emotional state in the Teutonic order, affecting its evolving traditions. In had become the means throughwhich the Teutonic Order had expressed solidarity with the pain caused by the loss of the Holy Land, the place where their traditions began and was further shaped their medieval heritage.
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The Emotions on the Barcelona Streets of the Fifteenth Century
Cláudia Costa BROCHADO
Original title: As emoções nas ruas barcelonesas do século XV
Published in Emotions in the Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean World
Keywords: Barcelona, Emotions, Fifteenth century, Marriage.
The relationships between the citizens of fifteenth century Barcelona were often turbulent, especially between couples. The conflicts that occurred sometimes resulted in legal proceedings. The statements submitted for these cases were a visible expression of the emotions and conflicts involved. This article presents some of these legal proceedings through partial transcriptions, with the aim of getting as close as possible to the feelings and emotions of the people of Barcelona at the end f the Middle Ages.
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The degrees of knowledge to the mystical vision in the thought of Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464)
José GONZÁLES RÍOS
Original title: Los grados de conocimiento hacia la visión mística en el pensamiento de Nicolás de Cusa (1401-1464)
Published in Mystic and Millenarianism in Middle Ages
Keywords: Knowledge, Metaphysics, Mystical vision, Neoplatonism, Nicholas of Cusa.
The speculation on the topic of vision (visio), and in it around the mystical vision (visio mystica), is rich in the system of thought of Nicholas of Cusa. It is permanently present in his sermons, letters and in the rest of his theological and philosophical work. While there are various ways to address it, we propose considering it from his metaphysics of the human mind (mens human) point of view, and in it through the consideration of the degree of knowledge what the mind gradually transit in the conjectural searching of vision of the first principle from which she and all proceeds. To this end, we will address the topic of the mystical vision by considering first, the elements that Cusano gives in the context of his early sermons (before 1440). Second, through the presentation of the degrees of knowledge of the human mind, as they appear in the first great metaphysical systematization of knowledge in the books of De coniecturis (1442/3).Third, we discuss the topic in his work De visione Dei (1453). Analyzing this elements we hope to show that the topic of the mystical vision in the thought of Nicholas of Cusa is inseparable from his metaphysics of the human mind.
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The image of the throne in Ibn Gabirol and the Merkabah mysticism
Cecilia Cintra CAVALEIRO DE MACEDO
Original title: A imagem do trono em Ibn Gabirol e a mística da Merkabah
Published in Mystic and Millenarianism in Middle Ages
Keywords: Angels - Shekinah, Ibn Gabirol - Throne of Glory, Merkabah.
The subject of the Throne is common to the three abrahamic monotheistic religions and it is an important presence in medieval thought. Specifically in Judaism it has a prominent place, since the first great trend in Jewish mysticism is characterized by the contemplation of the Merkabah (Charriot/Throne) images described from the vision of Prophet Ezekiel. At the same time, many medieval Jewish philosophers also mention the subject. Although the philosophical work of Ibn Gabirol is characterized by the absence of religious references, there is one single passage in the Fons vitae that seems to refer to the Throne. In this article we will try to improve the interpretation of this passage from the Fons vitae by verifying the presence of the Merkabah mystical images in Ibn Gabirol poetry in the light of the indications from the mystical literature and the Jewish imaginary.
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Religious conflict in the fifth century through two parallel views – The sack of Rome in 410 AD in two literary works: De Reditu suo of Rutilio Namaziano and The City of God, of St. Augustine
Lilian Regina Gonçalves DINIZ
Original title: O conflito religioso no século V por meio de duas visões paralelas – O saque de Roma, de 410 d.C., em duas obras literárias: De Reditu suo, de Rutilio Namaziano, e A Cidade de Deus, de Santo Agostinho
Published in Relations between History and Literature in Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Christianity, Late Antiquity, Paganism, Sack of Rome, Theological conflict..
This article wants to analyze the event known as The Sack of Rome, occurred on 410 DC, using two contemporary works: De Reditu Suo, of the pagan poet Rutilio Namaziano and The City of God, written by the bishop Agostine from Hipona. The choice of these authors aimed to draw a religious parallel that illustrates the theological conflict that existed in that time. It will be initially presented the historical context preceding the period in question, known as Late Antiquity. Will be presented the political, social, economic and military questions, in order to understand the religious and social conflict caused by the rise of Christianity and the consequent decline of paganism. Is important to remember that this article is not intended to be a theological or literary thesis about the works that we are studying here. It is only a superficial historical view of an extremely wide and rich period, too complex to be treated in a few pages.
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Pedro I and Enrique II of Castile: the construction of a monstrous king and the legitimization of a usurper in the Chronicle of Chancellor Ayala
Cecilia DEVIA
Original title: Pedro I y Enrique II de Castilla: la construcción de un rey monstruoso y la legitimación de un usurpador en la Crónica del canciller Ayala
Published in Relations between History and Literature in Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Castile, Chronicles, Enrique II of Castile, Late Middle Ages, Pedro I of Castile, Violence.
To justify the confrontation between Pedro I and Enrique II of Castile, culminating in the murder of an unquestionably legitimate king in hands of his usurper brother, the chronicler Pero Lopez de Ayala build gradually a negative and somehow monstrous of Pedro I. Meanwhile, he attempts to prove that the count of Trastámara does not dethrones Pedro because of a personal ambition and breaking the rules, instead, he seems to be prevented to carry out with the mission of saving the kingdom from the terrible ills caused by the monstrous actions of his stepbrother. We will analyze the dichotomy between the negative and irrational portrait that Chancellor Ayala, one of the biggest responsible for that Pedro will be remembered as “Rey Cruel”- builds with skill, and what the practices he reveals says themselves. A meticulous scrutiny of the documents reveals a policy of regional power building through practices in which different functions of violence. Ware involved: economic, socializing, with exchange, symbolic, of justice, foundational, cultural, etc. We present here what might be called a cross dichotomy, which would face two internally contradictories terms: a monstrous but legitimate king against a usurper who is a providence’s instrument. What the construction realized by the trastamarist propaganda would have made, which from the chancellor Ayala would be the most brilliant exponent, is the conversion of a legitimate king in a illegitimate one, by nature of its own monstrosity, and the conversion of a usurper who -as shows the definition itself, is illegitimate- in a legitimate king, in function of the realization of a divine mission.
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Preface. Will ultimately aesthetic feeling the bones of the historian?
Ricardo da Costa
Original title: Será finalmente o sentimento estético a ossatura do historiador?
Published in Relations between History and Literature in Ancient and Medieval World
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“Checkmate to the time, the forms and the place…”. Meister Eckhart between flowing of time and stillness of Eternity
Matteo RASCHIETTI
Original title: “Xeque-mate ao tempo, às formas e ao lugar...”. Mestre Eckhart entre o fluir do tempo e o remanso da Eternidade
Published in The Time and the Eternity in the Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Eternity, Time, birth of logos, fullness, instant.
The conception of time in Eckhart’s reflection is a fundamental point that joins the thought of German Dominican: the metaphysic model of development of being overcomes the concepts of time and eternity, leading plurality into One, the duplex esse into unum esse, the temporal into timeless. The illustration of the main features of this rational path, here, is done starting from the poem Granum sinapis, which condenses the main themes of philosophicaltheological speculation of Thüringen, among of that there’s the issue of time.
