Martina Carandino

Research Topic

Medieval History - Pomerius through Late Antiquity

The main purpose of my research is to enhance the understanding of Pomerius' works and activity, as well as to show the authority of the De Vita Contemplativa, his only work that we can read in its entirety, through Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. I will investigate firstly the influence that some earlier Christian authors - above all Augustine of Hippo and John Cassian – had on Pomerius and I will work on tracing the influences exerted by them on the De Vita Contemplativa. I will also try to identify those original elements in Pomerius' work that are not to be attributed entirely to previous sources. My analysis will include the relation between Pomerius and other reformist works of his time, like the Statuta Ecclesiae Antiqua. Finally, I will consider the authors who might have been influenced by Pomerius’ writings during the late antique and early medieval period, like Caesarius of Arles and Gregory the Great.

Previous Education:

Previously, I studied Classics (BA and MSc) in Turin at the Università degli Studi di Torino and I specialized in Ancient Christian Literature and Philology.

Areas of Interest:

I am strongly interested in textual criticism and the transmission of latin texts as well as in the influence of Christianity on the Latin language and in how the classical pagan themes are reinterpreted by Christian authors.

Supervisor: Dr Conrad Leyser