He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend. Or, lives of the saints, volume 2 the golden legend. The golden legend, an extensive collection of saints biographies, became one of the bestselling books of the late medieval period. It is a compendium of saints lives and of liturgical and doctrinal instruction, culled in the 1260s from a wide range of patristic and medieval sources. The golden legend is one of the central texts of the middle ages, a superb summary of saints lives and religious festivals which decisively influenced the imagery of poetry, painting and stained glass. In his new translation, the first in modern english of the complete text from the graesse edition, william granger ryan captures the immediacy of this rich. Art in tuscany the golden legend legenda aurea or legenda. Or, lives of the saints, volume 1 the golden legend. Jacopo da varagines chronicle of the city of genoa. He was the author or compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend, a. By the 15th century, editions of voragine s golden legend were available in every major european language. The golden legend william caxtons middle english version, formatted for easy reading html and pdf. Page 84 placidas approaching nigh thought in his mind how he might take him, and as he beheld and considered the hart diligently, he saw between his horns the form of the holy cross shining more clear than the sun, and the image of christ, which by the mouth of. This page was last edited on 4 december 2014, at 14.
Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of both factual and fictional storiessome preposterous, some profound, and some shockingthe golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. In 1244 he entered the dominican order and at the age of 22 became a professor. The golden legend, volume i princeton university press. The golden legend internet history sourcebooks fordham. Skip to main content this banner text can have markup. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. One of the central texts of the middle ages, the golden legend deeply influenced the imagery of poetry, painting and stained glass with its fascinating descriptions of saints lives and religious festivals. In 1244 he entered the dominican order and at the age of 22 became a. Your generous donation will be matched 2to1 right now. After gaining a reputation throughout northern italy as a preacher and theologian, he was provincial of lombardy 126778 and 128186 and archbishop of the independent city.
No footnotes, they omitted some very important saints in lie. The golden legend voragine wikisource, the free online. Page 84 placidas approaching nigh thought in his mind how he might take him, and as he beheld and considered the hart diligently, he saw between his horns the form of the holy cross shining more clear than the sun, and the image of christ, which by the mouth of the hart, like as sometime balaam by the ass. After gaining a reputation throughout northern italy as a preacher and theologian, he was provincial of lombardy 126778 and. Golden legend repeats the story of his rescuing a libyan kings daughter from a dragon and then slaying the monster in return for a promise by the kings subjects to be baptized. Fu molto riprodotto e illustrato durante il medioevo. The golden legend unique very early printed copy of selections, missing some pages. Georges slaying of the dragon may be a christian version of the. His name was jacopo gacobus in latin, james in english. In his new translation, the first in modern english of the complete text from the graesse edition, william granger ryan captures the immediacy of this rich, imagefilled. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda sanctorum, also known as the golden legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was one of the most popular religious works of the middle ages.
The author was a native of the town of varazze on the genoese riviera. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived. From 1470 to 1530 it was also the most often printed book in europe. He was the author, or more accurately the compiler, of legenda aurea, the golden legend, a collection of the legendary lives of the greater saints of the medieval church that was. July or july 16, 1298 was an italian chronicler and archbishop of genoa. Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. A slightly corrected edition, described in some detail in a memoranda by the editor in volume 3, of caxtons edition of 1483. In search of sacred time thus offers more than just a discussion of the the golden legend. Jerome writeth, was in the time of decius and valerianus, emperors, the year of the incarnation of our lord two hundred and fiftysix. It was likely compiled around the years 12591266, although the text was added to over the centuries. It was interesting to learn saints with names that i never knew of. One of the central texts of the middle ages, the golden legend deeply influenced the imagery of poetry, painting and stained glass with its fascinating.
Translator william granger ryan is to be thanked for rendering this monument almost 800 pages of medieval piety into accessible english. By the 15th century, editions of voragines golden legend were available in every major european language. Apr 22, 2012 depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, the golden legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the bible, during the late middle ages. See the golden legend main pageindex for other volumes or chapter length files.
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