Dear Colleagues,
A medievalist friend of mine has just enquired whether there is any
substance in the story passed on by Damiano Neri in his book on the Holy
Sepulchre that at the beginning of the '600 it was rumoured that the
immense Cappella Medicea in S. Lorenzo was designed to accommodate the
Holy Sepulchre itself, which was to be removed from Jerusalem. Although
Neri strongly doubts the truth of this report, there were apparently
discussions between Florence and the Druzes ca. 1608 when the transfer of
the tomb was possibly being discussed as a practical possibility.
I would be immensely grateful if any of you might be able to substantiate
or authoritatively dismiss this far-fetched idea. If you prefer, you could
reply off list directly to my curious friend: Professor Colin Morris
([log in to unmask])
Many thanks in advance for your assistance,
Simon Ditchfield
Dept of History
University of York
YORK YO10 5DD
England
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