Davide Bianchi | Austrian Academy of Sciences (original) (raw)

Books by Davide Bianchi

Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2021

This book offers new insights into the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most renowned ... more This book offers new insights into the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most renowned coenobitic monasteries in the Byzantine period in Arabia. Between 2012 and 2014, the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum carried out new archaeological investigations in the southern wing of the monastery and in the church. The excavation in the central nave unearthed an empty tomb adorned with alabaster marble, placed on the highest point of the mountain. Starting from the archaeological data, the author critically reflects on the architectural phases of the basilica, how the monastery was run and its daily life. Special attention is also given to pilgrimages to the monastic shrines beyond the River Jordan and their progressive abandonment.

BOOK CHAPTERS by Davide Bianchi

Holy Land Archaeology on either Side, 2021

Between Sea and Desert: On Kings, Nomads, Cities and Monks Essays in Honor of Joseph Patrich , 2019

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES by Davide Bianchi

Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022), 2023

Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022) Tabl... more Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022)
Table of Contents

Mitteilungen zur Christlichen Archäologie (MiChA) 28, 2022

With the emergence of Christianity in Late Antiquity, a growing devotion of martyrs and saints as... more With the emergence of Christianity in Late Antiquity, a growing devotion of martyrs and saints as well as the cult of their relics spread
in the Mediterranean area. A privileged focus of this phenomenon was the Holy Land, where many sacred bodily remains were identified,
and then exported in the entire Christian oecumene, thereby becoming an instrument for the dissemination of the cults of saints.
Indeed, bones and holy ashes were the prominent objects of veneration, and many churches and sanctuaries were equipped with special
liturgical furnishings designed to accommodate the venerated relics. The archaeological evidence of these sacred spaces reveals that
a common pattern of strategies was employed by Late Antique churches to place and arrange the sacred fragments they possessed. In
order to understand their forms, locations and veneration systems, as well as their use and functioning, the aim of this paper is to pay
special attention to the typological definition of the reliquaries found in the churches of the provinces of Palaestina and Arabia. The
sacred installations that allowed the visual contact with relics will then be analysed to point out how these holy remains had a peculiar
role in framing the liturgical and devotional space of the ecclesiastical buildings. A particular emphasis will be given to the results of
the most recent archaeological excavations carried out in the region under examination.

RACTA 2018 Ricerche di Archeologia Cristiana, Tardantichità e Altomedioevo, 2019

The aim of this paper is to focus on the analysis of the first architectural phase of the basilic... more The aim of this paper is to focus on the analysis of the first architectural phase of the basilica of Moses on Mount Nebo in Jordan. Recent archaeological excavations, which took place in the church, have provided new evidence enriching the knowledge concerning this archaeological monument. In Particular, the discovery of an intact burial structure in the main nave of the church dated to Late Antiquity offered insights to the chronological development of the sanctuary.
Following a brief historical-geographical overview, the methodologies that have been used for the research will be described. A holistic approach, including the study of archaeological materials, literary sources and architectural features, has been applied. The latter has provided a better understanding of the building phases. The factors taken in consideration stress the importance of the monastery of Mount Nebo, which, according to the biblical tradition, was linked to the place where Moses died after having seen the Promised Land.

Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan 13, 2019

The possession of an efficient water supply system has always been the essential component for su... more The possession of an efficient water supply system has always been the essential component for survival in the arid territories of Transjordan, especially for those villages and settlements that developed in the rural context. Among them, the great monastic complexes were often independent and self-sufficient. After reviewing the water facilities discovered in the monastic complex of the Memorial of Moses on Mt. Nebo, this study willfocus on the value and use that monks and pilgrims attributed to water. In particular, the parallel cases with the variegated framework of other coenobia connected to holy places widespread in Jordan, will point out the practical needs of drinking and of the agricultural irrigation. Finally, the analysis will move to the cultural and religious role of water, which in some monasteries led to the consecration of this natural source. The redemption feature of the water in baptism, often administered by the priests in these monasteries, allowed the pilgrims to renew their promise and faith in Christ.

Devotion to military saints, widespread in the Byzantine Empire, was often combined with specific... more Devotion to military saints, widespread in the Byzantine Empire, was often combined with specific
cultural practices linked to the production of special sacred items. An example of these objects
is a little bronze plaque dedicated to St. George which is part of the collections of the Archaeological
Museum of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem. After reviewing the archival
data, it was possible to examine the dynamics that led to the purchase of the artifact. Moreover, a
detailed analysis of the epigraphic inscriptions showed interesting linguistic and phonetic outcomes.
Finally, a deep investigation of the iconographic and literary sources has allowed me to identify
the figurative patterns used by the artisan for the graphic rendering of St. George as well as the
contextualization of the veneration of the saint in the ancient provinces of Palaestina and Arabia.

The Funerary Practices in Jordanian Ecclesiastical Contexts: Some Case Studies for a Preliminary ... more The Funerary Practices in Jordanian Ecclesiastical Contexts: Some Case Studies for a Preliminary Analysis
The aim of this paper is to analyze the funerary practices in the ecclesiastical contexts of the Byzantine provinces of Arabia and
Palaestina. Indeed, the special position of the burials within the churches of the region characterizes them as privileged tombs as opposed
to the most common funerary areas. Using the hagiographic sources and the latest archaeological data, the most significant cases
documented in the monastic coenobia, including some eremitic burial caves, and in the diocesan churches beyond the Jordan, will be
investigated in the future. In addition to the analysis of the individual funerary types of burials, the possible devotional practices that
characterized these tombs and their connections with the different social structures (whether monastic, lay or early Islamic), which
formed them, will be examined

LECTURES AND TALKS by Davide Bianchi

The Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most important Byzantine monastic complexes, was ... more The Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most important Byzantine monastic complexes, was built in the place where Moses contemplated the Promised Land. In fact, the coenobium is part of a large network of monasteries linked to the devotion of Biblical figures that arose beyond the Jordan River. After an introduction on the characteristics of Monasticism in the Provincia Arabia, the lecture will address the new interpretation of the construction phases of the basilica and a study of the daily life of the monastery. This approach will allow the highlighting, not only of the religious, economic and social aspects of the monastic community, but also of the abandonment of the complex. This analysis was possible thanks to new archaeological research promoted by the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, in which the speaker was involved.

Lezione nell'ambito del corso di Storia degli insediamenti e dei Sistemi Abitativi del prof. Andr... more Lezione nell'ambito del corso di Storia degli insediamenti e dei Sistemi Abitativi del prof. Andrea Vanni Desideri - Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici, Università degli Studi di Firenze

Die Verehrung des Heiligen Stephanus verbreitete sich in den ersten Jahrhunderten der byzantinisc... more Die Verehrung des Heiligen Stephanus verbreitete sich in den ersten Jahrhunderten der byzantinischen Zeit in den Provinzen Palästina und Arabien. Der Kult war verbunden mit der Entdeckung der Reliquien des Protomärtyrers und dem Bau von Kirchen zu seinen Ehren, dank Zuwendungen des Kaiserhauses. Diese Verehrung hat im Mittelmeerraum im Laufe der Jahrhunderte zugenommen. Der Vortrag wird die ersten archäologischen Stätten untersuchen, die mit dem Kult für diesen Heiligen und dessen architektonischen und epigraphischen Zeugnissen verbunden sind.

Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 2021

This book offers new insights into the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most renowned ... more This book offers new insights into the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most renowned coenobitic monasteries in the Byzantine period in Arabia. Between 2012 and 2014, the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum carried out new archaeological investigations in the southern wing of the monastery and in the church. The excavation in the central nave unearthed an empty tomb adorned with alabaster marble, placed on the highest point of the mountain. Starting from the archaeological data, the author critically reflects on the architectural phases of the basilica, how the monastery was run and its daily life. Special attention is also given to pilgrimages to the monastic shrines beyond the River Jordan and their progressive abandonment.

Holy Land Archaeology on either Side, 2021

Between Sea and Desert: On Kings, Nomads, Cities and Monks Essays in Honor of Joseph Patrich , 2019

Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022), 2023

Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022) Tabl... more Journal of Byzantine Studies (JOeB) - Jahrbuch der Oesterreichischen Byzantinistik 72 (2022)
Table of Contents

Mitteilungen zur Christlichen Archäologie (MiChA) 28, 2022

With the emergence of Christianity in Late Antiquity, a growing devotion of martyrs and saints as... more With the emergence of Christianity in Late Antiquity, a growing devotion of martyrs and saints as well as the cult of their relics spread
in the Mediterranean area. A privileged focus of this phenomenon was the Holy Land, where many sacred bodily remains were identified,
and then exported in the entire Christian oecumene, thereby becoming an instrument for the dissemination of the cults of saints.
Indeed, bones and holy ashes were the prominent objects of veneration, and many churches and sanctuaries were equipped with special
liturgical furnishings designed to accommodate the venerated relics. The archaeological evidence of these sacred spaces reveals that
a common pattern of strategies was employed by Late Antique churches to place and arrange the sacred fragments they possessed. In
order to understand their forms, locations and veneration systems, as well as their use and functioning, the aim of this paper is to pay
special attention to the typological definition of the reliquaries found in the churches of the provinces of Palaestina and Arabia. The
sacred installations that allowed the visual contact with relics will then be analysed to point out how these holy remains had a peculiar
role in framing the liturgical and devotional space of the ecclesiastical buildings. A particular emphasis will be given to the results of
the most recent archaeological excavations carried out in the region under examination.

RACTA 2018 Ricerche di Archeologia Cristiana, Tardantichità e Altomedioevo, 2019

The aim of this paper is to focus on the analysis of the first architectural phase of the basilic... more The aim of this paper is to focus on the analysis of the first architectural phase of the basilica of Moses on Mount Nebo in Jordan. Recent archaeological excavations, which took place in the church, have provided new evidence enriching the knowledge concerning this archaeological monument. In Particular, the discovery of an intact burial structure in the main nave of the church dated to Late Antiquity offered insights to the chronological development of the sanctuary.
Following a brief historical-geographical overview, the methodologies that have been used for the research will be described. A holistic approach, including the study of archaeological materials, literary sources and architectural features, has been applied. The latter has provided a better understanding of the building phases. The factors taken in consideration stress the importance of the monastery of Mount Nebo, which, according to the biblical tradition, was linked to the place where Moses died after having seen the Promised Land.

Studies in the History and Archaeology of Jordan 13, 2019

The possession of an efficient water supply system has always been the essential component for su... more The possession of an efficient water supply system has always been the essential component for survival in the arid territories of Transjordan, especially for those villages and settlements that developed in the rural context. Among them, the great monastic complexes were often independent and self-sufficient. After reviewing the water facilities discovered in the monastic complex of the Memorial of Moses on Mt. Nebo, this study willfocus on the value and use that monks and pilgrims attributed to water. In particular, the parallel cases with the variegated framework of other coenobia connected to holy places widespread in Jordan, will point out the practical needs of drinking and of the agricultural irrigation. Finally, the analysis will move to the cultural and religious role of water, which in some monasteries led to the consecration of this natural source. The redemption feature of the water in baptism, often administered by the priests in these monasteries, allowed the pilgrims to renew their promise and faith in Christ.

Devotion to military saints, widespread in the Byzantine Empire, was often combined with specific... more Devotion to military saints, widespread in the Byzantine Empire, was often combined with specific
cultural practices linked to the production of special sacred items. An example of these objects
is a little bronze plaque dedicated to St. George which is part of the collections of the Archaeological
Museum of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem. After reviewing the archival
data, it was possible to examine the dynamics that led to the purchase of the artifact. Moreover, a
detailed analysis of the epigraphic inscriptions showed interesting linguistic and phonetic outcomes.
Finally, a deep investigation of the iconographic and literary sources has allowed me to identify
the figurative patterns used by the artisan for the graphic rendering of St. George as well as the
contextualization of the veneration of the saint in the ancient provinces of Palaestina and Arabia.

The Funerary Practices in Jordanian Ecclesiastical Contexts: Some Case Studies for a Preliminary ... more The Funerary Practices in Jordanian Ecclesiastical Contexts: Some Case Studies for a Preliminary Analysis
The aim of this paper is to analyze the funerary practices in the ecclesiastical contexts of the Byzantine provinces of Arabia and
Palaestina. Indeed, the special position of the burials within the churches of the region characterizes them as privileged tombs as opposed
to the most common funerary areas. Using the hagiographic sources and the latest archaeological data, the most significant cases
documented in the monastic coenobia, including some eremitic burial caves, and in the diocesan churches beyond the Jordan, will be
investigated in the future. In addition to the analysis of the individual funerary types of burials, the possible devotional practices that
characterized these tombs and their connections with the different social structures (whether monastic, lay or early Islamic), which
formed them, will be examined

The Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most important Byzantine monastic complexes, was ... more The Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, one of the most important Byzantine monastic complexes, was built in the place where Moses contemplated the Promised Land. In fact, the coenobium is part of a large network of monasteries linked to the devotion of Biblical figures that arose beyond the Jordan River. After an introduction on the characteristics of Monasticism in the Provincia Arabia, the lecture will address the new interpretation of the construction phases of the basilica and a study of the daily life of the monastery. This approach will allow the highlighting, not only of the religious, economic and social aspects of the monastic community, but also of the abandonment of the complex. This analysis was possible thanks to new archaeological research promoted by the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, in which the speaker was involved.

Lezione nell'ambito del corso di Storia degli insediamenti e dei Sistemi Abitativi del prof. Andr... more Lezione nell'ambito del corso di Storia degli insediamenti e dei Sistemi Abitativi del prof. Andrea Vanni Desideri - Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici, Università degli Studi di Firenze

Die Verehrung des Heiligen Stephanus verbreitete sich in den ersten Jahrhunderten der byzantinisc... more Die Verehrung des Heiligen Stephanus verbreitete sich in den ersten Jahrhunderten der byzantinischen Zeit in den Provinzen Palästina und Arabien. Der Kult war verbunden mit der Entdeckung der Reliquien des Protomärtyrers und dem Bau von Kirchen zu seinen Ehren, dank Zuwendungen des Kaiserhauses. Diese Verehrung hat im Mittelmeerraum im Laufe der Jahrhunderte zugenommen. Der Vortrag wird die ersten archäologischen Stätten untersuchen, die mit dem Kult für diesen Heiligen und dessen architektonischen und epigraphischen Zeugnissen verbunden sind.

The monastery of Moses on Mt. Nebo is an emblematic case within the framework of similar complexe... more The monastery of Moses on Mt. Nebo is an emblematic case within the framework of similar complexes linked to the memory and devotion to the biblical figures widespread in the Holy Land. The coenobium of Mt. Nebo was one of the biggest developed so far in Byzantine Transjordan showing a sophisticated balance between monastic daily life, pilgrimage economy and hegemonic role over the colony of monks who dwelled in the surrounding valleys. Recent archaeological excavations in the nave of the church, directed by the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, allowed us to identify an intact and empty burial-shrine cut in the highest point of the mountain. The tomb probably served as a cenotaph to commemorate the prophet " beloved by God and people, Moses of blessed memory " (Sir. 45:1), who, according to the Bible, died there. This discovery and the reassessment of previously published data suggest a revised interpretation of the phases of construction carried out over the centuries.

The international workshop is a collaboration between the project A08 "Relic Labels" of the SFB 9... more The international workshop is a collaboration between the project A08 "Relic Labels" of the SFB 933 and the research network "The Cult of Relics in Late Antiquity" and discusses current and future works on the phenomenon of late antique and early medieval veneration of relics. It brings together early career researchers and established scholars and has an interdisciplinary scope with contributions from Ancient and Medieval History, Christian and Byzantine Archaeology, Latin Philology of the Middle Ages, and Islamic Studies.

Workshop "Artemis in the taberna: Religious Entanglements and Appropriations in Urban Spaces" Ös... more Workshop "Artemis in the taberna: Religious Entanglements and Appropriations in Urban Spaces"
Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut | Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

Frühes Christentum im archäologischen Kontext

ÖSTERREICHISCHE ARCHÄOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNGEN IN ITALIEN - RICERCHE E STUDI IN ITALIA - Istituto Sto... more ÖSTERREICHISCHE ARCHÄOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNGEN IN ITALIEN -
RICERCHE E STUDI IN ITALIA - Istituto Storico Austriaco

XVII International Congress of Christian Archaeology Frontiers. The Transformation and Christiani... more XVII International Congress of Christian Archaeology
Frontiers. The Transformation and Christianization of the Roman Empire between Centre and Periphery
Utrecht – Nijmegen July 2 -6, 2018

XXIV. AGCA Tagung - Forschungsgeschichte als Aufbruch. Die Geschichte der Christlichen Archäologi... more XXIV. AGCA Tagung - Forschungsgeschichte als Aufbruch.
Die Geschichte der Christlichen Archäologie und Byzantinischen Archäologie / Kunstgeschichte im Raum der AGCA

ICHAJ 14 International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan “Culture in Crisis:Flo... more ICHAJ 14
International Conference on the History and Archaeology of Jordan
“Culture in Crisis:Flows of Peoples, Artifacts and Ideas”

Funerary Landscapes of the Late Antique oecumene Contextualizing Epigraphic and Archeological Evi... more Funerary Landscapes of the Late Antique oecumene Contextualizing Epigraphic and Archeological Evidence of Mortuary Practices

by Martin Auer, Gerald Grabherr, Josef Eitler, Davide Bianchi, Basema HAMARNEH, Julia Rabitsch, Yvonne Seidel, Stephan Karl (moved to Researchgate.net), Paul Bayer, Benjamin Wimmer, and Ulrike Töchterle

Seminario di archeologia del sacro, Università di Ferrara 23 - 24 Maggio 2023