De sacris virginibus

We invite you to a cycle of seven sessions devoted to the Renaissance collection Parthenicae, a series of hexametric poems depicting the life of Mary and six virgin martyrs: St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Lucy, St. Agatha, St. Apollonia, and St. Cecilia. The author of the collection, Baptista Mantuanus (1447–1516), transforms traditional hagiographic narratives into epic tales in which the holy virgins become true viragines, fearless warriors of faith. Their adversaries are not only the persecutors of Christians but also Satan himself, portrayed in the guise of pagan gods, sinister demons, and mythological monsters.

During the course, we will read and analyze selected passages from each poem, discovering how hagiographic storytelling merges with the ancient epic tradition. Among the passages discussed will be: the prophecy of Christ’s birth foretold by the Sibyl, the enchanting vision of an angel offering St. Catherine gifts from the earthly paradise, the dramatic battle of St. Margaret against monstrous creatures, and the harrowing account of the tortures inflicted upon St. Agatha.

The course will not only introduce participants to the contents of Parthenicae but also explore the ways in which Renaissance Europe creatively reinterpreted both classical and Christian models of sanctity.

Program (seven sessions, each devoted to one epic):

I. Parthenice Mariana
II. Parthenice Catharinaria
III. Parthenice Margaritae
IV. Parthenice Luciae
V. Parthenice Agathae
VI. Parthenice Apolloniae
VII. Parthenice Caeciliae

This course will be led by dr Elisabetha Górka.

On Mondays at 20:00 (CEST), the first class on October 6th.

Participation fee 450 PLN / 105 EUR