Finds

Devotional medals

Strictly personal items are the 35 devotional medals (figs. 1-4) found near burials in the larger of the crypts in the  Sant’Eulalia archaeological area, often associated with rosaries, or linked to chains or sewn on fabric. The metal items differ in shape, size and subject: images show Christ and some Saints like St Joseph (fig. 1), the Archangel Michael, St. Ignatius of Loyola or it is assumed that some figures are of a pope or a saint, richly dressed.

1
Fig. 1 - Back of the same coin: S. Joseph and Child (photo by AFS).

The second side of the medal is usually of the Madonna with Child in her arms, when it refers to the cult of the Virgin of Carmel (fig. 2), or portrayed alone and pierced by swords when it reproduces the Madonna of the Seven Sorrows, cult responding to Good Friday celebrations.

2
Fig. 2 - Medal with Madonna and Child (Madonna del Carmelo perhaps), (photo by AFS).

The most typical shapes are oval, circle and octagon (figs. 3-4). Amongst the signs of devotion, at times sewn on shrouds or scapulars, there are some medals brought by the faithful returning from pilgrimages and others celebrating holy years, with the inscription ROMA.

3
Fig. 3 - Medal: male representation uncertain (photo by AFS).
4
Fig. 4 - Retro: iconography uncertain man with Child (photo by AFS).

 

Bibliografia

  • Catalogo delle medaglie devozionali religiose, n. 116, p. 166; n. 1134, p. 170. Disponibile su: http://www.thesaurusaste.eu/catalogo_pdf/cat_Indus_pdf/medaglie_ devozionali_ religiose_highres.pdf [26/10/2013].
  • A. LEONIO, F. FERSINI, Medaglie devozionali delle sepolture della chiesa parrocchiale di Gagliano del Capo – secoli XVII-XX, in Bres, 18, 1986, pp. 67-174.
  • D. MARTORELLI, D. MUREDDU (a cura di), Cagliari, le radici di Marina: dallo scavo archeologico di S. Eulalia un progetto di ricerca formazione e valorizzazione, Cagliari 2002.
  • R. MURGIA, Medaglie, nn. 106, 108 (fig. 80), 112 (fig. 81), in MARTORELLI, MUREDDU 2002a, pp. 158-162.
  • C. NIEDDU, Medaglie, nn. 107, 109-111, in MARTORELLI, MUREDDU 2002a, pp. 159-161.
  • F. PINNA, Il corredo funerario nella Sardegna post-medievale: la cripta della chiesa di S. Eulalia a Cagliari, in S. LUSUARDI SIENA (a cura di), Fonti archeologiche e iconografiche per la storia e la cultura degli insediamenti nell'altomedioevo, in Atti delle giornate di studio (Milano-Vercelli, 21-22 marzo 2003) = Contributi di Archeologia, 3. Milano 2003, pp. 323-335.
  • A. SERENI, Le strutture murarie, in AA.VV., Corfinio (AQ). Campagne di scavo 1988-1989, in AM, 27, 1990, pp. 483-514.

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