Prudenzio, Peristephanon 9 e 11: il potere dell’ ekphrasis e il processo di cristianizzazione

Prudentius’ Peristephanon 9 and 11 celebrate two saints venerated in Italy: Cassian and Hippolytus. These martyr poems are very interesting, because they contain an ekphrasis of paintings apparently seen by Prudentius during his pilgrimage. In such a way, they become fascinating examples of the techniques and the function of ekphrasis. Did Prudentius see the paintings as he portrayed them? In his descriptions he may have added some gruesome details, but there are no doubts that he really saw the paintings, which decorated the shrines where the two martyrs were buried. By textual means and visual art Prudentius tried to stimulate his audience’ s visual memory, showing how visual art also had a prominent role in Christian worship. These two ekphraseis aim to keep memory of Christian martyrs alive, stimulating devotion and spiritual improvement.