Abstract

In the case of the Visigothic realm, information about tree and fountain ‘pagan’ cults is particularly terse, limited to a handful of conciliar canons and scarce allusions in scientific treatises and hagiographies. In any event, the existence of some non-ecclesiastical regimes of sacralization can be detected. They activate other ways of promoting religious authority and other cultic actors. These regimes of sacralization uphold memories and powers of parental or local communities that locate effective points of articulation in the soil and its signs. In this chapter, I explore the regimes of sacralization instituted by these actors and examine which logics they could be articulating through their practices.

Keywords: Idolatry, Regimes of Sacralization, Central Powers, Local Powers

On the subject of idol worshippers: it is manifest that the enemy of the human race, according to the words of the Apostle, runs around the world roaring and seeking whom he may devour, since using various tricks and distortions and deceiving many fools, he never ceases to ensnare them in its ties; and even though the Lord commands that you shall not make any sculpture for yourself, nor any image of what is in heaven above or on the earth below, etc., and still in another part: ‘Thou shalt not make any idol nor sculpture, nor raise sanctuaries, neither shalt thou place a distinguished stone in your land to adore it’, and later: ‘Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him only’, these fools, deceived by various persuasions, become idol worshippers, stone devotees, torch igniters, and they worship sources and trees as holy places, they become seers or enchanters, and many other things that would be very lengthy to tell.