Sami Sibyl
The Sami sibyl is one of the ten sibyls differentiated from Laktanz according to the Roman historian Varro , each with a geographical epithet .
According to ancient legend, the place of the oracle of the Sami Sibyl was the island of Samos off the coast of Asia Minor. With the exception of Tacitus previously, there is hardly any direct reference to a Sibyl especially on this island in other preserved sources from Greek and Roman antiquity .
Based on lactance , the Christian Middle Ages and the Renaissance understood the Sami Sibyl as a pagan herald of an expectation of God, almost on a par with the prophets .
In Gothic and Renaissance art , the Sami sibyl is usually depicted as one in a series of sibyls , based on the Varro listing , often in comparison to an often equal number of prophets from the Old Testament. In the most famous pictorial representation of five Sibyls by Michelangelo in the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel , however, no 'Samia' is included.
In numerous other groups of sibyls , however, there is now and then a named 'Samia', e.g. B. in the following locations:
- Ulm , Gothic half-sculpture in the choir stalls of the Ulm Minster , as one of ten Sibyls, in the total work of art with numerous ancient scholars and prophets
- Siena , Renaissance mosaic on the floor of the cathedral , as one in a cycle of various sibyls
- Genoa , baroque ceiling fresco in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta
In Schedel's medieval world chronicle , a colored picture of a 'Sibilla samia' is printed as one of twelve sibyls .
Individual evidence
- ^ Des Lucius Caelius Firmianus Lactantius writings. Excerpt from the divine instructions (Epitome divinarum institutionum). Translated from Latin by Aloys Hartl. (Library of the Church Fathers, 1st row, Volume 36) Munich 1919. Chapter 5
- ^ Tacitus, Annalen, Book VI, 12
Web links
Web links to primary sources
- Tacitus Annalen, Book VI, 12 (List of the Sibyls) - Original quote from thelatinlibrary.com (accessed June 2011) ( Latin )
- Lactantius excerpt from the divine instructions 5th chapter (listing of the Sibyls) - German translation at the Library of the Church Fathers (accessed June 2011)