Il radicamento dei culti tradizionali in Italia fra tarda antichità e alto Medioevo

Book Description

This scholarly exploration challenges the conventional narrative that Christianity had completely marginalized traditional religious practices by the end of the fourth century in Italy. Rather than accepting the victor's version of history, author Gianfranco Binazzi examines how deeply rooted traditional cultic practices persisted far longer than previously acknowledged.

The research reveals how Christian writers and imperial constitutions of the era painted an incomplete picture, largely ignoring the substantial populations in both cities and countryside who continued to identify with ancestral religious traditions. Moving beyond the simplistic opposition between "paganism" and Christianity, this work demonstrates how traditional cults maintained their presence not merely as rural remnants, but as integral aspects of spiritual life that required assimilation rather than elimination.

Beginning with imperial policies from Constantine through Theodoric, the study traces the survival of traditional religious practices through the age of Gregory the Great and into Lombard territories, extending the examination through the eighth century. The author draws upon archaeological evidence and prosopographical studies to illuminate how these spiritual traditions adapted and endured.

Rather than simply measuring how long ancient practices survived, this investigation explores the profound cultural roots that made these traditions impossible to erase. For readers interested in understanding how spiritual practices evolve and persist across historical transitions, this work offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between established and emerging religious consciousness in medieval Italy.