Saepius Legentes ac Sedulo Conspicientes: Reading the Image, Contemplating the Text in Hrabanus Maurus’ Carmina Figurata

Abstract

De Laudibus Sanctae Crucis (DLSC) by Hrabanus Maurus is a seminal work in the medieval Christian literature that explores the Cross as the central structure of the universe through a unique amalgamation of poetry, prose, and visual art. The work employs a multi-layered narrative that enriches the reader’s understanding, encouraging a meditative interaction with the text that emphasizes the contemplative over the recitative. This paper analyzes Hrabanus’s intricate use of verbal and visual elements to guide his readers into a profound meditation on the universal significance of the Cross.

Keywords

• Hrabanus Maurus
• medieval theology
• visual poetry
• theological symbolism
• Carolingian renaissance