Luigi Lafasciano
University of Salerno, DIPSUM - Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Department Member
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Religions et systèmes de pensée, Department Memberadd
- Athenian Democracy, Greek colonies in Magna Graecia, Greek and Roman Art and Architecture, Archeologia Classica, Urban Landscape, ancient Greek polis, and 23 morePolis, Archaeology of Crete, Ancient Greek and Roman Town, Sacred Space, Athens, Ancient Topography (Archaeology), Greek Archaeology, Athens and Attica, Greek sanctuaries, Archaeology of Religion, Topografia di Atene, Medicine, Cult of Saints, Relics and Relic Veneration, Asklepios, Asklepios Cult, Healing cults, Shamanism and Shamanic Healing, Visions And Dreams, Anthropology of Religion, Medical Anthropology, Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming, and Sogno Nel Mondo Classicoedit
- I possess a unique background in Archaeology and Religious Anthropology. My research, published in a book and several... moreI possess a unique background in Archaeology and Religious Anthropology. My research, published in a book and several articles, explores ancient performance-oriented healing rituals and the intricate connection between theatrical and ritual performances in ritually-induced therapeutic dream visions. As the Founder and Director of The Diakron Institute, an international NGO fostering cross-cultural perspectives, I have led multisensory educational programs across Europe.edit
The paper examines the relation between epiphanic rituals in Greek healing cults and theatrical mimesis in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, focusing on three sanctuaries tightly connected to each other: the Asklepieion at Epidauros, the... more
The paper examines the relation between epiphanic rituals in Greek healing cults and theatrical mimesis in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, focusing on three sanctuaries tightly connected to each other: the Asklepieion at Epidauros, the Athenian Asklepieion on the southern slope of Acropolis, and the Amphiareion at Oropos. It takes into account epigraphic, literary, iconographical, and archaeological evidence in order to understand the topography of the evolving ritual performance in the healing cult of Asklepios and Amphiaraos, their votive practices, and their connection to theatrical culture. Finally, the paper argues that the technical devices of theatrical culture had a relevant impact on the evolution of the ritual staging of miracles in healing cults and suggests that such a phenomenon might account for the success of the ritual of therapeutic incubation and the spread of Asklepios’ cult from the 5th century BCE.
Research Interests:
The paper analyzes the evolution of the cognitive and ritual devices related to divine epiphanies in the Greek world between centuries 7 and 5 BCE. It focuses on the preternatural light of the divine body as a distinguishing feature of... more
The paper analyzes the evolution of the cognitive and ritual devices related to divine epiphanies in the Greek world between centuries 7 and 5 BCE. It focuses on the preternatural light of the divine body as a distinguishing feature of divine epiphanies in a variety of ritual contexts including divination and healing rituals, mystery initiations, and rites of passage. It explores the morphological connections among the Presocratic philosophers' ecstatic visions, ritual dramas of the Eleusinian mysteries, visions in divinatory oracles, and healing epiphanies of Asklepios to propose a historical interpretation of the relationship between ritually-induced visions and dramatic mimesis.
Research Interests:
L’objectif du travail de thèse est une analyse de l’évolution des dispositifs rituels et cognitifs concernant les rêves et visions ‘divines’ dans des contextes cultuels diverses – du culte des héros en Grèce ancienne, à ceux des divinités... more
L’objectif du travail de thèse est une analyse de l’évolution des dispositifs rituels et cognitifs concernant les rêves et visions ‘divines’ dans des contextes cultuels diverses – du culte des héros en Grèce ancienne, à ceux des divinités épiphaniques et thaumaturgiques au long de l’Antiquité, à celui des saints chrétiens dans l’Antiquité Tardive – pour vérifier le changement diachronique des fonctions culturelles de la vision par rapport à la formation de l’identité des communautés étudiées. La recherche est menée sur deux niveaux complémentaires : celui de l’anthropologie et de l’histoire des religions pour ce qui concerne le développement des outils rituels, et celui de l’archéologie et topographie pour ce qui concerne l’évolution des parcours rituels et des relations topographiques entre les espaces du rêve rituel et les autres secteurs des cités. On a donc essayé d’esquisser une histoire matérielle du rôle des visions par rapport à la formation et évolution de la mémoire commun...
Research Interests:
Il sermone De Laude Sanctorum, pronunciato da Vittricio di Rouen nel 396 per celebrare l’adventus di un lotto di reliquie milanesi, offre uno straordinario esempio di performance rituale presso una comunità cristiana alle soglie del V... more
Il sermone De Laude Sanctorum, pronunciato da Vittricio di Rouen nel 396 per celebrare
l’adventus di un lotto di reliquie milanesi, offre uno straordinario esempio di performance rituale
presso una comunità cristiana alle soglie del V secolo. L’articolo la analizza da un punto
di vista storico-religioso, e ne evidenzia sia la continuità che l’originalità rispetto agli antichi
rituali visionari di incubatio. In seguito si provano a interpretare i percorsi rituali della cerimonia
d’adventus, considerata nel contesto archeologico-monumentale del complesso episcopale
tardoantico di Rouen.
l’adventus di un lotto di reliquie milanesi, offre uno straordinario esempio di performance rituale
presso una comunità cristiana alle soglie del V secolo. L’articolo la analizza da un punto
di vista storico-religioso, e ne evidenzia sia la continuità che l’originalità rispetto agli antichi
rituali visionari di incubatio. In seguito si provano a interpretare i percorsi rituali della cerimonia
d’adventus, considerata nel contesto archeologico-monumentale del complesso episcopale
tardoantico di Rouen.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The paper focuses on the current state of Sensory Studies in the academic context and the results of our experiences in organizing multisensory activities for The Diakron Institute. We address three complex but urgent questions: 1. What... more
The paper focuses on the current state of Sensory Studies
in the academic context and the results of our experiences in organizing multisensory activities for The Diakron Institute.
We address three complex but urgent questions:
1. What is the objective of Sensory Studies in the study of Antiquity?
2. What is the prospect of these studies?
3. What are the responsibilities of Sensory Studies within the context of their application?
in the academic context and the results of our experiences in organizing multisensory activities for The Diakron Institute.
We address three complex but urgent questions:
1. What is the objective of Sensory Studies in the study of Antiquity?
2. What is the prospect of these studies?
3. What are the responsibilities of Sensory Studies within the context of their application?
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Studi Marco Aimone, L’iscrizione cristiana del piatto Gualino (Torino, Galleria Sabauda). Nuovi spunti di interpretazione Osvalda Andrei, Le settanta settimane di Daniele (Dn 9,24-27) in Giulio Africano tra ermeneutica cronografica e... more
Studi
Marco Aimone, L’iscrizione cristiana del piatto Gualino (Torino, Galleria Sabauda). Nuovi spunti di interpretazione
Osvalda Andrei, Le settanta settimane di Daniele (Dn 9,24-27) in Giulio Africano tra ermeneutica cronografica e polemica contro l’esegesi escatologica
Ludovico Battista, Damnatus gratias agit. Il problema teologico-politico e la questione della secolarizzazione nell’Apologeticum di Tertulliano
Emanuele Castelli, Il I capitolo del Pastore di Erma alla luce delle recenti acquisizioni sul P. Bodmer XXXVIII e sulla Vulgata
Gabriele Castiglia, Between Aksum and Byzantium. The Rise of Early Christianity in the Horn of Africa: Sources and New Archaeological Data
Paola De Santis, Velia Polito, Tituli picti. Testimonianze epigrafiche dipinte dal complesso cimiteriale di Lamapopoli a Canosa di Puglia alla luce di recenti acquisizioni (ipogei F e G)
Sandra Huebenthal, Polycarp Unchained: How Cultural Studies Enhance Patristic Research
Luigi Lafasciano, ‘Praising the Saints’ in Order to See Them: Victricius of Rouen and the Development of the Early Christian Ritual of incubatio
Vincenzo Lomiento, Tessuto di immagini: l’esordio del secondo libro delle Confessioni di Agostino
Mario Resta, Donne sub districtione aeclesiastica: il ratto di vedove e consacrate nella legislazione canonica tardoantica
Note e discussioni
Rossana Barcellona, Percorsi di una religione dentro la storia e la letteratura. Riflessioni a margine di un libro recente: E. Prinzivalli, Il cristianesimo antico in Occidente fra tradizioni e traduzioni, Città Nuova, Roma 2019.
Recensioni
Schede bibliografiche
Libri pervenuti in Redazione
Marco Aimone, L’iscrizione cristiana del piatto Gualino (Torino, Galleria Sabauda). Nuovi spunti di interpretazione
Osvalda Andrei, Le settanta settimane di Daniele (Dn 9,24-27) in Giulio Africano tra ermeneutica cronografica e polemica contro l’esegesi escatologica
Ludovico Battista, Damnatus gratias agit. Il problema teologico-politico e la questione della secolarizzazione nell’Apologeticum di Tertulliano
Emanuele Castelli, Il I capitolo del Pastore di Erma alla luce delle recenti acquisizioni sul P. Bodmer XXXVIII e sulla Vulgata
Gabriele Castiglia, Between Aksum and Byzantium. The Rise of Early Christianity in the Horn of Africa: Sources and New Archaeological Data
Paola De Santis, Velia Polito, Tituli picti. Testimonianze epigrafiche dipinte dal complesso cimiteriale di Lamapopoli a Canosa di Puglia alla luce di recenti acquisizioni (ipogei F e G)
Sandra Huebenthal, Polycarp Unchained: How Cultural Studies Enhance Patristic Research
Luigi Lafasciano, ‘Praising the Saints’ in Order to See Them: Victricius of Rouen and the Development of the Early Christian Ritual of incubatio
Vincenzo Lomiento, Tessuto di immagini: l’esordio del secondo libro delle Confessioni di Agostino
Mario Resta, Donne sub districtione aeclesiastica: il ratto di vedove e consacrate nella legislazione canonica tardoantica
Note e discussioni
Rossana Barcellona, Percorsi di una religione dentro la storia e la letteratura. Riflessioni a margine di un libro recente: E. Prinzivalli, Il cristianesimo antico in Occidente fra tradizioni e traduzioni, Città Nuova, Roma 2019.
Recensioni
Schede bibliografiche
Libri pervenuti in Redazione
Research Interests:
L’objectif du travail de these est une analyse de l’evolution des dispositifs rituels et cognitifs concernant les reves et visions ‘divines’ dans des contextes cultuels diverses – du culte des heros en Grece ancienne, a ceux des divinites... more
L’objectif du travail de these est une analyse de l’evolution des dispositifs rituels et cognitifs concernant les reves et visions ‘divines’ dans des contextes cultuels diverses – du culte des heros en Grece ancienne, a ceux des divinites epiphaniques et thaumaturgiques au long de l’Antiquite, a celui des saints chretiens dans l’Antiquite Tardive – pour verifier le changement diachronique des fonctions culturelles de la vision par rapport a la formation de l’identite des communautes etudiees. La recherche est menee sur deux niveaux complementaires : celui de l’anthropologie et de l’histoire des religions pour ce qui concerne le developpement des outils rituels, et celui de l’archeologie et topographie pour ce qui concerne l’evolution des parcours rituels et des relations topographiques entre les espaces du reve rituel et les autres secteurs des cites. On a donc essaye d’esquisser une histoire materielle du role des visions par rapport a la formation et evolution de la memoire commun...
Research Interests:
The goal of the thesis is an analysis of the evolution of the cognitive and ritual devices related to dreams and visions in different cultic contexts – from the hero cult in ancient Greece, to those of epiphanic and healing deities... more
The goal of the thesis is an analysis of the evolution of the cognitive and ritual devices
related to dreams and visions in different cultic contexts – from the hero cult in ancient
Greece, to those of epiphanic and healing deities during Antiquity, to that of the Christian
saints in Late Antiquity – with the aim of tracing the diachronic change of the cultural
functions of vision in relation to the construction of the identity of the communities here
analysed. The research presents two complementary levels: that of religious history and
anthropology concerning the development of the ritual devices, and that of archaeology
and topography concerning the evolution of the ritual patterns and of the topographical
relationship between the spaces devoted to ritual dreaming and the other areas of the
cities. We therefore tried to outline a material history of the role of visions in relation to the
construction and evolution of the cultural memory and its materialization in space.
related to dreams and visions in different cultic contexts – from the hero cult in ancient
Greece, to those of epiphanic and healing deities during Antiquity, to that of the Christian
saints in Late Antiquity – with the aim of tracing the diachronic change of the cultural
functions of vision in relation to the construction of the identity of the communities here
analysed. The research presents two complementary levels: that of religious history and
anthropology concerning the development of the ritual devices, and that of archaeology
and topography concerning the evolution of the ritual patterns and of the topographical
relationship between the spaces devoted to ritual dreaming and the other areas of the
cities. We therefore tried to outline a material history of the role of visions in relation to the
construction and evolution of the cultural memory and its materialization in space.
Research Interests:
Il libro indaga il fenomeno del sogno rituale nella cultura greco-romana, sia nella sua evoluzione storico-religiosa sia attraverso le sue tracce archeologiche e monumentali. Vincitore del 19° Premio L'ERMA per l'archeologia The book... more
Il libro indaga il fenomeno del sogno rituale nella cultura greco-romana, sia nella sua evoluzione storico-religiosa sia attraverso le sue tracce archeologiche e monumentali.
Vincitore del 19° Premio L'ERMA per l'archeologia
The book investigates the phenomenon of ritual dreaming in Greco-Roman culture, both in its historical-religious evolution and through its archaeological and monumental evidences.
Winner of the 19th L'ERMA Award for Archaeology
Luigi Lafasciano
Archeologia del sogno rituale
Dall'arcaismo alla tarda antichità nel mondo greco-romano
Studia Archaeologica, 248
2021, XIV-354 / 368 pp., 103 ill. b/n
Paperback, 17 x 24 cm
Vincitore del XIX Premio L'ERMA per l'archeologia 2019-2020 /Winner of L'ERMA Award for Archaeology 2019-2020
ISBN: 9788891321213
ISSN: 0081-6299
Vincitore del 19° Premio L'ERMA per l'archeologia
The book investigates the phenomenon of ritual dreaming in Greco-Roman culture, both in its historical-religious evolution and through its archaeological and monumental evidences.
Winner of the 19th L'ERMA Award for Archaeology
Luigi Lafasciano
Archeologia del sogno rituale
Dall'arcaismo alla tarda antichità nel mondo greco-romano
Studia Archaeologica, 248
2021, XIV-354 / 368 pp., 103 ill. b/n
Paperback, 17 x 24 cm
Vincitore del XIX Premio L'ERMA per l'archeologia 2019-2020 /Winner of L'ERMA Award for Archaeology 2019-2020
ISBN: 9788891321213
ISSN: 0081-6299
Research Interests: Classics, Popular Culture and Religious Studies, Dreams (History), Ancient Greek Religion, Dreams, and 13 moreGreco-Roman Mythology, Mitology, Religious Studies, Greek mythology, Anthropology of Dreams and Dreaming, Incubation, Sleep and Dreaming, Classics: Ancient History and Archaeology, History of dreaming/dreams, Mitologia griega, Succubus & Incubus, Sogno Nel Mondo Classico, and Dream Incubation
Online conference organized by the publisher WriteUp Books as part of the series 'I giovedì di Archidoxa', May 6th, 2021. Its focus is on the evolution of the use of dreams and visions for divinatory and therapeutic purposes in the... more
Online conference organized by the publisher WriteUp Books as part of the series 'I giovedì di Archidoxa', May 6th, 2021.
Its focus is on the evolution of the use of dreams and visions for divinatory and therapeutic purposes in the ancient Greek and Roman culture.
The talk explores the evolution of ecstatic rituals and their relevance to the understanding of contemporary issues related to medicine, healing, and dreams.
Its focus is on the evolution of the use of dreams and visions for divinatory and therapeutic purposes in the ancient Greek and Roman culture.
The talk explores the evolution of ecstatic rituals and their relevance to the understanding of contemporary issues related to medicine, healing, and dreams.