Published in Monastic and Scholastic Philosophy in the Middle Ages

Keywords: Keywords: Christian martyrdom, The Holy Roman Empire, Medieval Culture, Medieval Literature, Roswhita von Gandersheim.

Roswhita von Gandersheim (tenth century) is considered, the magistra bingensis earlier, the first female voice in literature in German-speaking lands. During its existence, the canonisa wrote epic texts, legends and six theatrical plays, to be represented within the convents, and perhaps also an external audiences. Her classical theater latin culture, specifically of Terence, it was quite helpful in their theatrical texts, in which the artistic knowledge was united their purpose of evangelization. Among the various themes that we noted in Roswhita theatrical plays, calls our attention to the presentation of the concept of martyrdom. Leaving, therefore, a discussion about the ecllesiastical meaning of the word, will get a brief exemplification in Gandersheim theatrical texts, with the intention of showing only with religious language, but mainly with the linguistic record of their texts, an indisputable tool to solidify the Christian virtues in the world in which he lived.