Sylvia of Aquitaine
Saint Sylvia of Aquitaine is a fourth century woman known for her journal describing her travels to holy sites in the Near East.[1]
Sylvia of Aquitaine, from Aquitaine, lived and traveled during the reign of Emperor Theodosius, between 385 and 388.[1] She was the sister of Rufinus, the prime minister of the Eastern Empire under Theodosius and Arcadius.[2] Her journal, sometimes referred to as a diary, includes accurate descriptions of the scenery she saw.[1] Some sites she visited include Sinai, before the convent was built, and Jerusalem where she saw the liturgical ceremonies of Passion Week and heard the sermons from the bishop of the city (most likely, Cyril).[1][3] Additionally, she visited the burial places of the biblical prophet Job, and of Haran the brother of Abraham, as well as the site where Eleazer met with Rebecca.[1] She is remembered as having dedicated her life seeking out and visiting sacred places in Jerusalem, Arabia, and Mesopotamia.[4]
Sylvia of Aquitaine's diary was discovered by accident in Arezzo in 1887.[3] It is considered to be one of the earliest travel books ever written.[5] It shows the state of Eastern Christendom before the fall of the Roman Empire,[1] as well as demonstrates a remarkable combination of piety and an adventurous spirit considering the fact that long distance travel in the 4th century was likely both dangerous and arduous.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Agnes Smith (1893). How the codex was found; a narrative of two visits to Sinai, from Mrs. Lewis's journals 1892-1893. Cambridge [Mass.]: Macmillan and Bowes. pp. 108–121.
- ^ Bardenhewer, Otto (1908). Patrology: the lives and works of the fathers of the church. Freiburg im Breisgau: B. Herder. p. 424.
- ^ a b Jeffery, George (1919). A brief description of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, and other Christian churches in the Holy City, with some account of the mediæval copies of the Holy Sepulchre surviving in Europe. Cambridge [Eng.]: University Press. p. 5.
- ^ Aragon, Ray John de. Enchanted legends and lore of New Mexico. Charleston, SC: History Press. p. 79. ISBN 9781609495725.
- ^ Ed., Newton Marshall Hall (2007). The Bible Story: Songs of the Ages V5. Gardners Books. p. 93. ISBN 9780548067963.