Sibilas: a sobrevivência das profetisas pagãs no mundo cristão

Abstract

Ancient myths are not dead. Based on this premise, founded on the research of scholars such as Warburg, Jean Seznec, Erwin Panofsky and Fritz Saxl, the intent of this paper is to delineate the historical paths which legitimized the survival of the myth of the Sibyls in the Christian world in its close association with astrology. Paganism was not reborn after the Middle Ages. It has always been an intrinsic element of Christianity, not only symbolically, but also as a direct impact on people and their lives. Some particular moments in history are in this sense noteworthy, from the apologist priests of primitive Christianity to the birth of modern science. The sibyls and astrology, as "outside" witnesses, are a constant presence in Christian theology, literature and music, as well as in artistic representations of the Christian world, which is the focus of this paper. The survival or afterlife (Naschleben) of the sibyls throughout history is further affirmed by the writings of the patristic and scholastic theologians, and also evidenced in the work of Albumasar, the Muslim theologian born in the 8th century, who associates sibyls, astrology and the Virgin Mary. How can we justify the presence of the sibyls on the ceilings of Catholic churches? This is the question that this paper largely intends to address.