medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. August) is the feast day of:
Cyriac and Archelaus (d. mid third-century, supposedly). These saints,
recorded for today in the (pseudo-)Hieronymian Martyrology, are the
remnant of a larger group (Cyriac, Maximus, Archelaus and companions)
formerly commemorated today in the RM. The latter, along with Aurea and
companions (formerly celebrated on 24. August), all appear as martyrs of
Ostia in the legendary Acta of St. Aurea (BHL 808-812) and of St.
Censurinus (BHL 1722). Within this larger literary assemblage, C.
(whose name is also spelled 'Quiriacus'), M., and A. form a cohesive
unit as a bishop of Ostia and as a priest and a deacon working under
him, whereas the high-born Aurea and members of her family and her
household are presented as Romans sent to Ostia for interrogation and,
ultimately, execution. Moreover, Aurea and and a saint named Cyriacus
enjoyed separate medieval cults at or near Ostia. Under these
circumstances, Baronio's decision to divide the supposed martyrs of
Ostia into these two groups celebrated on successive days was quite
rational. Aurea (Ostia's traditional patron saint) has survived in the
new RM, celebrated by herself, and under the name 'Aura' (attested in at
least one version of her Acta), on 20. May. The others have all been
suppressed except for C. and A., saved by their presence in the
(ps.-)HM. The new RM calls them martyrs of the Tiber Island.
But wait, there's more! A late antique/early medieval
(sixth-/eighth-century) Christian oratory or chapel at Ostia Antica was
excavated in 1910. One complete sarcophagus and fragments of others
were found in the vicinity. The complete sarcophagus, which has a panel
showing Orpheus as the Good Shepherd, bears the legend, HIC QVIRIACVS
DORMIT IN PACE ('Here Cyriacus sleeps in peace.'). Although there is no
compelling evidence to show that this bearer of a fairly common
Christian name was ever venerated as a saint, let alone that he was the
C. of the aforementioned legendary Acta, the Internet Group Ostia has
elected to treat the Quiriacus of the sarcophagus as though he were
certainly identical with C. the martyr of Ostia. As usual, the views
shown are quite good. See:
http://www.ostia-antica.org/regio2/7/7-1.htm
Other views of the structure:
http://tinyurl.com/ouwtw
http://tinyurl.com/nk7je
Another view of the sarcophagus:
http://www.servius.org/Ostia/pages/051117_1685WS.htm
Best,
John Dillon
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