In the 14th century, when traditional beliefs and superstitions resurge with arrogance in Italy (like in Europe in general), documentary sources and traditions might help the research on 'hidden landscapes', i.e. lands where the memory of a disaster has been fixed only in a place-name, in a sanctuary or in a rural church, built in a place where a miracle has happened. In Amalfi a terrible and destructive phenomenon like a storm in 1343 has been trasformed, some centuries after, in tsunami by economic interests more or less connected. Local history has contributed to forget the real danger (violent storms and sudden overflows), coming from the mountains impending on the town. During Roman period and in the following centuries till the Early Middle Age, peoples knew very well what could mean a vesuvian flow of mud on the coast. Many place-names, given already in the prehistory, remember natural hazards. They tried to prevent new generations to do something of reckless like to build in dangerous places. In the late middle age and now, in the same land it has forgotten this lesson. Only the number of victims can mark how much great are the mistakes.
Reckless foundations, Natural disasters or Divine punishment in the 14th century Italian culture (the storm or tsunami of Amalfi in 1343)
Del Lungo S
2012
Abstract
In the 14th century, when traditional beliefs and superstitions resurge with arrogance in Italy (like in Europe in general), documentary sources and traditions might help the research on 'hidden landscapes', i.e. lands where the memory of a disaster has been fixed only in a place-name, in a sanctuary or in a rural church, built in a place where a miracle has happened. In Amalfi a terrible and destructive phenomenon like a storm in 1343 has been trasformed, some centuries after, in tsunami by economic interests more or less connected. Local history has contributed to forget the real danger (violent storms and sudden overflows), coming from the mountains impending on the town. During Roman period and in the following centuries till the Early Middle Age, peoples knew very well what could mean a vesuvian flow of mud on the coast. Many place-names, given already in the prehistory, remember natural hazards. They tried to prevent new generations to do something of reckless like to build in dangerous places. In the late middle age and now, in the same land it has forgotten this lesson. Only the number of victims can mark how much great are the mistakes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.