Mitteilungen zur Christlichen Archäologie 29, pp. 87-100, 2023/10/25
This paper deals with the movement of relics and the spread of foreign cults in Late Antiquity. Special attention is paid here to the early Christian sanctuaries in northern Italy (Italia annonaria) linked with the veneration of some relics imported from the pars Orientis of the Roman Empire. The aim of this study is to define the process of importing early relics, taking into consideration archaeological evidence and textual sources. In order to understand this religious topography it is crucial to reflect on the methods and means of diffusion, evaluating the relationship between the relics and the establishment of the cult, and, at the same time, to identify the reasons for the selection of these specific sacred remains, considering factors such as political and social aspects.
Keywords: Relics, Holy Land, Early Christian Architecture, Liturgical Installations, Christian Devotion
