Curiosity Modenesi | Gundeberga, the mysterious woman of medieval Modena
„This is the most mysterious woman in Modena, who was so important to be the only present in the cathedral crypt. But why is it there?“
Curiosity Modenesi | Gundeberga, the mysterious woman of medieval Modena
„
Descending to the crypt of the cathedral of Modena are various elements of great interest, in fact in addition to the body of San Geminiano, we find on the right side a group of statues including the Madonna della Pappa with Sant'Anna. Alongside this sculptural group, there is an inscription on a very ancient stone in the wall, in Latin, which tells of a woman known as Gundeberga. There is no news of this woman, except for the fact that it was of longobard origin and that she died on June 12, 570 after Christ.
The peculiarity of this tombstone is that it contains next to the date the name of the consuls present at that time. It was tradition during the republic, but also the imperial period of Rome, adding to the progressive dating also the name of the consuls of that period. It was a pity that in 570 Rome had been defeated and the Longobards had taken control over the Emilian territories. Yet a consul is indicated, which was probably determined by the fact that it had been so traditionally so that the tradition was to be maintained.
Yet the greatest mystery that surrounds this woman is not so much the dating, but its very presence. In fact, the cathedral is located, as you will know, over the Roman necropolis, so it is normal that there is a tombstone on this ground. Yet this is the only plaque that was kept in that place during the three phases of the cathedral, namely the three cathedrals of Modena, of which the present cathedral is only the last of its buildings.
Moreover, the name of this woman has always been linked to another fact, namely being pious and good. And in fact we already know in Modena a "good woman" or Bonissima. Traditionally Bonissima is both the statue placed on Piazza Grande on the Municipal Palace, and generically the name given to women who have helped the community. According to tradition, Bona Donna would have been a woman who would have fomented the Modena in a famine and it might be that this legend refers to Gundeberga himself. And then the tradition that then led to the statue of the Bonissima would have originated from the Lombard period
„This is the most mysterious woman in Modena, who was so important to be the only present in the cathedral crypt. But why is it there?“
Curiosity Modenesi | Gundeberga, the mysterious woman of medieval Modena
„
Descending to the crypt of the cathedral of Modena are various elements of great interest, in fact in addition to the body of San Geminiano, we find on the right side a group of statues including the Madonna della Pappa with Sant'Anna. Alongside this sculptural group, there is an inscription on a very ancient stone in the wall, in Latin, which tells of a woman known as Gundeberga. There is no news of this woman, except for the fact that it was of longobard origin and that she died on June 12, 570 after Christ.
The peculiarity of this tombstone is that it contains next to the date the name of the consuls present at that time. It was tradition during the republic, but also the imperial period of Rome, adding to the progressive dating also the name of the consuls of that period. It was a pity that in 570 Rome had been defeated and the Longobards had taken control over the Emilian territories. Yet a consul is indicated, which was probably determined by the fact that it had been so traditionally so that the tradition was to be maintained.
Yet the greatest mystery that surrounds this woman is not so much the dating, but its very presence. In fact, the cathedral is located, as you will know, over the Roman necropolis, so it is normal that there is a tombstone on this ground. Yet this is the only plaque that was kept in that place during the three phases of the cathedral, namely the three cathedrals of Modena, of which the present cathedral is only the last of its buildings.
Moreover, the name of this woman has always been linked to another fact, namely being pious and good. And in fact we already know in Modena a "good woman" or Bonissima. Traditionally Bonissima is both the statue placed on Piazza Grande on the Municipal Palace, and generically the name given to women who have helped the community. According to tradition, Bona Donna would have been a woman who would have fomented the Modena in a famine and it might be that this legend refers to Gundeberga himself. And then the tradition that then led to the statue of the Bonissima would have originated from the Lombard period
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