The Poem

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens’ literary works were produced between the years 392 and 405. As early as the 5th century, these were so famous that around all Europe many copies of them circulated. Psychomachia vividly represents the struggle of virtues against vices for the salvation of the soul. Prudentius’ most famous work begins with a preface and frame narrative about Abraham and Lot. The Psychomachia (Battle of Spirits or Soul War) is a poem from the early fifth century AD in which Abraham conveys the model of a man who fights with the armor of faith, and who shows his total devotion to God. In contrast with Abraham, Lot embodies all souls who, since Adam’s fall, are conquered by vices. In the preface, Prudentius begins his epic with an evocation of Christ and prays him to give to the souls the force and willingness necessary to overcome and defeat the evil passions (fol. 8v).

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The eternal conflict between Virtues & Vices


The Psychomachia is characterized by a variety of lively battle scenes. The table below shows how in almost every episode, one or two virtues battle one or more vices. In Prudentius' time, paganism was still very much alive and that is why Faith’s embodies the Christian struggle against idolatry.

Episode Virtue Example Vice Type of defeat
One Faith Worship of the Old Gods Strikes her down
Two Chastity Judith Lust Stone and sword
Three Long-Suffering Job Wrath Wrath's suicide
Four Lowliness and Hope David Pride Lowliness beheads it
Five Sobriety Moses Indulgence Strikes with cross
Six A Reason Greed and Entourage
Six B Good Works Thrift Strangles and stabs
Seven Faith and others Discord or Heresy Strikes, tears to pieces

AURELIUS PRUDENTIUS CLEMENS

Prudentius was one of the most influential Roman Christian poet. He was born in the Roman province of Tarraconensis in 348 and he probably died around 413. Prudentius practiced law, held two provincial governorships, and was awarded a high position by the Roman emperor Theodosius. In his works, he exquisitely merged Christianity with classical culture. The poetry of Prudentius was influenced by Tertullian and St. Ambrose, as well as the Bible and the acts of the martyrs.

List of Prudetius' works:

-Liber Cathemerinon
-Liber Peristephanon
-Apotheosis
-Psychomachia
-Libri contra Symmachum
-Dittochæon

MANUSCRIPTS EDITIONS

Non-illustrated manuscripts:

-Oxford, Bodleian Library, Rawlinson C. 697, HG 661.
-Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 223, HG 70.
-Cambridge, Trinity College 0.2.51, HG 191.
-Durham, Cathedral Library B. IV. 9, HG 246.
-Oxford, Bodleian Library, Auct. F. 3 .6, HG 537.
-Cambridge, University Library, Gg. 5. 35, HG 12.

Illustrated manuscripts:

-Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 23, HG 38.
-London, British Library, Add. 24199, HG 285.
-London, British Library, Cotton Cleopatra C. viii, HG 324.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

CCCC MS 23 is a luxury manuscript possibly produced at Christ Church Canterbury in the late tenth century. The tenth-century monastic reforms under Edgar and Æthelwold, furthermore, present themselves as a possible context for the illustration of the manuscripts. The importance of every Christian living righteously and adhering to key virtues while rejecting deadly sins was a promoted ideology among monks and laymen alike.