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| Between history and legend |
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Legend has it that the temple of Diana arose on the mountain of Pratofiorito, on the
ruins of which was built the monumental church of S. Cassiano di Controne.
This legend, nevertheless, seems to confirm the fact that Pratofiorito, in medieval
and modern times, was considered the site of diabolic meetings of the witches of the
Lucca area. But what has that to do with the myth of Diana? The pagan myth of Diana,
together with the Christian one of Salomè, is considered the originating source of
sorcery. Diana, in fact, is the lady of the night, of the hunt, of the freedom of
nature, while
Erodiade (Salomè), condemned to roam in the company of her evilness for having
asked and obtained the life of John the Baptist, represented suffering in
transgression, relieved only through nocturnal and secret ceremonies.
The cult of Diana and Salomè maintained an essentially beneficial character until
the XII century: later it will be the refined treatises of the Dominicans to depict
the witch as a diabolic being to pursue and extinguish. In the depths of the Archive
of the State of Lucca is kept a trial dating back to 1589, during the full
“witch hunt”. The accused is a certain Crezia of Agostino Mariani from Pieve di San
Paolo accused of having frequented the witches sabbath, of having killed children
and adults by sucking their blood, as well as using this for evil, medicinal purposes
and magic potions.
Before being condemned to death, while she suffered lacerating tortures, Crezia
confessed to being sprinkled with oil and of having flown, together with her friends
to Pratofiorito to take part in the orgy with the devil...
(Bibliography: E. Galasso Calderaia, C. Sodini, “Abratassà” - Tre secoli di
stregherei in una libera Repubblica”, Maria Pacini Fazzi editore, Lucca 1989).
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| Eroiade (Salomé) |
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