Hamingway

December 16, 2019

Hamingway

A disappeared church

This essay[1] is about a church that is datable around 9^th century after Christ, when Italy and Rome, above all, was conquered by Byzantium, now Istanbul; then much religious member of religious order this is Basilian order, born in Constantinople during 9^th century and widespread on Byzantium and Italy, above all by presence and election of Byzantine pope, above all pope Zacharias(741-752), that was very next to Byzantium and his imperator, Constantine fifth. Zacharias introduced much Byzantine culture and also in Rome and also to south Latium, particular Sermoneta, where was this disappeared church. This church, whose we don’t known name, was built by member of Basilian order in cloister of actual abbey of Valvisciolo(Figs.1-4), why can we say it? First form of cloister, this is square and above all to stones that now are present in pillar of cloister, to arches that are typically Byzantine and other. First plan is square, and this particular form is very common to Byzantine church, this is Saint Sophia and other now in Istanbul or ancient Constantinople(Figs.5-7), we must consider that Byzantine imperium was also in Italy until Ravenna, in central Italy, therefore also architecture of Ravenna(Fig.8) is to some exemple very meaningful as Saint New Apollinaire and in Class(Fig.12) typical architecture of Byzantium, that during 9^th century was used by Basilian order to this church in Valvisciolo. Arches(Fig.9) that now are present in cloister are typical architecture from Byzantium(Figs.10-13); the stones that now are to pillars of Basilian church are very next to much building of Byzantium and Byzantine(Figs.14-17bis,ter, quattuor); capitals are more over very next much exemple of Byzantium and Ravenna (Figs.18-20), these capitals have took during 13^th century in Sermoneta and used both to building of cathedral of Saint Mary(Figs.25-27), and to some column today in a Medieval tower(Fig.23). Form of abacuses(Figs.25-27) in the mentioned cathedral are very specular to exemple in Ravenna and Byzantine architecture(Figs.18-20). A column, fortunately again complete, shows a form very strange to medieval architecture in Italy(Fig.28), in fact octagonal plane of this column is strange in Latium and in Rome, but it is very next to Byzantium style; it is sufficient see pillars of monument to Theodoric in Ravenna(Fig.30), that is very similar to our column and pillar; because a pillar is again complete(Fig.29) in cloister of Valvisciolo, and I think that this pillar supported a sculpture of saint that given name to church, but important is that this pillar has an octagonal form, like column in Medieval tower in Sermoneta. Basilian order was an ascetical religious order, and therefore the presence of church was present always; in fact along perimeter of cloister(Figs.31-33), at 1957, was worked restores and worker found trace of wells of cells, this is cells of monks that were in direct contact with church by arches. Where is now this Basilian church? We can think that now it has destroyed, but we must correct this affirmation because this church has dismantled and built again to other church for a destruction for a battle between Annibaldi family and other next town, Sezze Romano, at 1235; for this war, a document tells that the church of Saint Mary was building. To this rebuilding was necessary both worker and also material; cost of this was very important, then costumers took profit and dismantled Basilian church. Other architectonical document about Byzantine presence in Sermoneta is a church; this is first building of church of Saint Michael Archangel, or better, a town of this church that is, fortunately, remained complete during centuries(Fig.34); this town of church today is ignored, but it is original Basilian church in Sermoneta centre. The entry to church during 9^th century was trough a staircase (Figs.35-36); this opinion is supported by position of painting with Christ, that is very similar to position to other painting and mosaic on the apses on the church in south Italy, inspired to Byzantine architecture, as church of Monreale, Palermo; then the access to church was staircase that now is access and exit to a room. Other characteristic of Basilian order was isolation, this is convent of Basilian usually were isolated, then this church was in region of Sermoneta particular isolated, we must consider that during 9^th century Sermoneta was depopulated then perfect to exercise of asceticism we can see isolated town by a painting of 1610(Fig.39), this town is called Pagan valley, somebody has though that this name was to a pagan temple, but we must red Du Cange, Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, a vocabulary that describes every Latin word and his mean during century after fall of Roman empire, and to word pagus he tells that this word means also field and territory, therefore a field that monks cultivated, where now are home and other then was alone field.

Alessandro Lusana

[1] I want thank mister Vincenzo Corbi for some photos of this assay that he has cured.

Alessandro Lusana