The complex of San Giovanni in Syracuse comprises the catacomb, which isthe subject of discussion in this work, the basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista andthe crypt of San Marciano. The location in suburban area is justified by the previousfunerary destination of the complex, which also makes the side later more suitable tohost a martyral sanctuary than the ancient cathedral church of Syracuse, which ismentioned in one of the few surviving sources for the period under examination (4th –7th century CE), the epistle of the monk Theodosius to the Archdeacon Leo. All the results in the fieldof ecclesiastical history, hagiography and christianization of urban and suburbanspace in Sicily must take account of the chronology of monumental evidences foundin the city of Syracuse, which never lead up to the 3rd century.According to the topographical development, inscriptions and other artifacts itis reasonable to assert that the origin of the cemeteries of Vigna Cassia and SantaLucia are datable to the first half of the 3rd century, whereas the cemetery of San Giovanni cannot prescind from the atmosphere of toleration signed by the Peace of the Church under Constantine (313).
Il complesso di S. Giovanni a Siracusa comprende la catacomba, di cui siintende parlare nel presente lavoro, la basilica di S. Giovanni Evangelista ela cripta di S. Marciano. La collocazione in area suburbana è giustificatadalla prima destinazione funeraria del complesso, che rende il luogo più adattoad ospitare in seguito un santuario di tipo martiriale che non l’anticachiesa cattedrale di Siracusa, citata da una delle poche fonti a disposizione peril periodo in esame (IV-VII sec.), l’epistola del monaco Teodosio a Leonearcidiacono.Tutti i risultati ottenuti nel campo della storia ecclesiastica, dell’agiografia e della cristianizzazione dellospazio urbano e suburbano in Sicilia devono tenere conto della cronologiadelle testimonianze monumentali rinvenute nella città di Siracusa, chenon precedono mai il III sec.In base allo sviluppo topografico, alle iscrizioni e ad altri manufatti, sipuò ragionevolmente pensare ad un’origine dei cimiteri di Vigna Cassia e S. Lucia già nella prima metà del III sec., mentre per il cimitero di S. Giovanninon si può prescindere dal clima di tolleranza siglato dalla Pace dellaChiesa sotto Costantino (313).
S. Giovanni a Siracusa
SGARLATA, MARIARITA
2004-01-01
Abstract
The complex of San Giovanni in Syracuse comprises the catacomb, which isthe subject of discussion in this work, the basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista andthe crypt of San Marciano. The location in suburban area is justified by the previousfunerary destination of the complex, which also makes the side later more suitable tohost a martyral sanctuary than the ancient cathedral church of Syracuse, which ismentioned in one of the few surviving sources for the period under examination (4th –7th century CE), the epistle of the monk Theodosius to the Archdeacon Leo. All the results in the fieldof ecclesiastical history, hagiography and christianization of urban and suburbanspace in Sicily must take account of the chronology of monumental evidences foundin the city of Syracuse, which never lead up to the 3rd century.According to the topographical development, inscriptions and other artifacts itis reasonable to assert that the origin of the cemeteries of Vigna Cassia and SantaLucia are datable to the first half of the 3rd century, whereas the cemetery of San Giovanni cannot prescind from the atmosphere of toleration signed by the Peace of the Church under Constantine (313).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.