Peter of Poitiers (theologian)

Petrus von Poitiers , Latin Petrus Pictaviensis , (* around 1125/1130; † 1205 in Paris ) was a French theologian.

Life

Its origins in Poitiers are confirmed due to the Latin author's name, which can be found in many copies of his works, as well as due to the designation on seals and in documents that also name him as "pictaviensis" or "pictavinus". His theological work is closely related to the writings of Petrus Lombardus , which is why it can be assumed that he began his studies at the Paris Cathedral School before his elevation to Bishop of Paris in 1159 . Otherwise nothing is known about his biography before 1169. In that year he followed Petrus Comestor to the chair of theology at the cathedral school of Notre Dame , the later Paris University. He has been documented as chancellor there since 1193. He held this office until his death on September 3, 1205. He does not seem to have been ordained a priest, because in the necrology he is referred to as a deacon.

Works

What is certain is that Peter of Poitiers added a last part to the Acts of the Apostles to the Historia scholastica of his predecessor Petrus Comestor . This happened according to the evidence of the earliest dated copy, which contains the section on the acta apostolorum before 1183 (never independent, but always handed down as the last part of the Historia scholastica).

The sentences (Sententiarum libri quinque) , written in 1168/1175, are considered to be the main theological work . They follow the tradition of the sentences of Petrus Lombardus and, in terms of genre history, are at the end of development. Petrus von Potiers divides his work into five books, which convey a systematic presentation of the truths of faith. In relation to Petrus Lombardus, some topics not dealt with by him are taken up, especially questions of ethics are dealt with in much more detail. In developing the topics, Peter von Poitiers prefers a dialectical approach, which possibly also reflects the development of the work from its function in teaching, because Peter von Poitiers was, like his predecessors, an author who tried very hard to convey the content didactically. Petrus von Poitiers made an important contribution to the biblical exegesis with the Distinctones super Psalterium , a commentary on the Psalms of David with a systematic interpretation of the individual passages and elements according to the fourfold sense of the scriptures, the Allegoriae super tabernaculum Moysi , with an allegorical interpretation of the federal tent and its components , the priests and servants as well as the cult objects (after Exodus 25-40) as an allegory of the Ecclesia , the Christian church. He also dedicated allegorical works to the books Leviticus and Numbers . In addition, numerous sermons are associated with the name of Peter of Poitiers, including those that were given in the context of synods.

First page of the Compendium historiae by Peter von Poitier in an English MS from the 13th century

Compendium historiae (also known as Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi and a number of other titles). The work has survived throughout the Middle Ages in a large number of copies both on rolls and in codices ; well over 200 copies are known to date. In accordance with the objectives formulated in the prologue Considerans historiae sacrae prolixitatem (= given the vastness of sacred history), the work provides a comprehensive overview of the entire biblical history in the form of a diagrammatic-genealogical synopsis. The guideline of the story is the generation succession of Christ according to the Gospels, enriched by information from the genealogies of the Old Testament. Office genealogies such as the lines of priests, judges and all ruling families mentioned in the Bible are arranged in parallel. In this way, synchronicity and diachronicity of people and events from the biblical account are made accessible to the viewer simultaneously. Additionally inserted into the synopsis are a table and several diagrams that could serve as the basis for further exegesis (cross-sections of Noah's ark, table of the 42 camps of the people of Israel when they exited Egypt, plan of the tents of the tribes of Israel around the tabernacle and plan of the earthly Jerusalem). The Compendium historiae is by far the most widespread work by Peter von Poitiers and - because of its history of impact - it is also of broad relevance for the graphic visualizations of history that emerged in the following centuries.

literature

• Peter Johanek: Petrus Pictaviensis (Peter of Poitiers). In: Author's Lexicon - The German Literature of the Middle Ages , 11th edition. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2004, Sp. 1225-1233.
• William H. Monroe: A Roll-Manuscript of Peter of Poitiers' Compendium. In: The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art , 65: 3 (1978) pp. 92-107.
• Andrea Worm: “Ista est Jerusalem”. Intertextuality and Visual Exegesis in Peter of Poitiers' Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi and Werner Rolevinck's Fasciculus temporum. In: Proceedings of the British Academy 37: 123, 2012, ISBN 978-0-19-726504-8 .

Web links

Commons : Petrus von Poitiers  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Jean-Baptiste Piggin: Peter's Stemma (list of known manuscripts of the Compendium historiae )
• The Walters: Peter of Poitiers' Historical genealogy of Christ (digitized version of the Compendium historiae in a 13th century English manuscript)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Johanek: Peter Pictaviensis . 2004, p. 1226-1229 .
2. ^ Stegmüller: Repertorium Biblicum . Ed .: Wilhelm Stegmüller. tape IV , p. 362-364 .