Formative Spaces: Making monks in early medieval Iberia

• October 2016• British Academy-Leverhulme

Trust small research grant• Exploring relationship between

organisation of space and training of monks and nuns in 6th & 7th century Iberia

• Levels of inquiry: 1. monasteries as formative

spaces for individuals and communities

2. comparisons between regions 3. comparisons between source

types

Church of Santa Lucia de Trampal, Cáceres

Sources and method

The project compares two source groups from the provinces of Baetica and Gallaecia, ca. 500-ca. 700:

1. Archaeological reports on excavated monastic sites

2. Iberian monastic rules and advice texts to ascetics

Texts and physical spaces

“The walls of the monastery will have one main entrance, with an additional small back entrance that leads into the garden. Any settlement must ideally be distant from the monastery, in case if it were near then it might bring the distress of danger or taint the monastery’s honourablereputation. The cells of the monks should be located next to the church so that they can go as quickly as possible to Divine Office.”

Plan of Santa Lucia de TrampalIsidore of Seville, Monastic Rule, chapter 1