Venantius Fortunatus was a great sixth-century Latin poet, Christian bishop, and saint. He was born in the 530s near Treviso in present-day Italy. He received a thorough, classical education in Ravenna as a young man. Then in 566 he moved to Metz in the northeast of present-day France to seek advancement in the Merovingian court. In letters and poems concerning his close friendship with Radegund of Thuringia and Agnes, abbess of the Abbey of the Holy Cross at Poitiers, Fortunatus showed a keen sense of gender and love in ordinary life. Venantius Fortunatus died between 600 and 610, probably in Poitiers.
Fortunatus’s epithalamium for King Sigibert implicitly condemns wanton Merovingian elite. It invokes for Sigibert & Brunhilda a Christian marital ideal. … Read the post epithalamium for Sigibert: wanton king into Christian marital ideal
The sixth-century woman of privilege Radegund of Thuringia worked hard in a convent kitchen. Fortunatus imaged helping her, not competing with her. … Read the post Fortunatus imagined helping Radegund in the kitchen
In sharing and eating food, Venantius Fortunatus felt love with his dear friends Radegund of Thuringia and Agnes of the Holy Cross. … Read the post sharing food indicates love in Fortunatus’s poetry
The 4th-century saint Martin of Tours helped persons to purge demons by crapping and farting. Your body can help your soul be sane. … Read the post demons purged in crapping & farting in Life of Saint Martin
In Plato’s Republic, the city of sows and the beautiful city lack beautiful competition. Contra Socrates, such fever is healthful & true to human nature. … Read the post Socrates’s city of sows lacks roses & lilies contending beautifully