The humanitarian ideals and the art that sealed largely in the 15th century fueled skepticism against traditional religious teachings, thus emerging as a model for educated members of society its philosophical values Ancient Greece and Rome. At the same time, the epidemic of groin plague that swept the Old Epirus changed every aspect of European life. OR ChurchFor her part, she was confronted with the lack of priests and the questioning of the world. In other words, in the 1490s the crisis in Church and Human relations was evident.
To Florencethe Medes, one of the most powerful families in the city, were patrons of hatchery artists, bankers, politicians, and even popcorn, with their influence being decisive in almost every aspect of city life at this time. “Favorite” of the family, at least in the beginning, there was also a Dominican monk called Savonarola.
The “vanity fire” was literally and metaphorically destroyed for the Renaissance ideals.
Savonarola was opposed to the secular ideals of the Renaissance, as testified by the fact that he spent most of his career preaching repentance and urging people to return to the church. In 1490 he arrived in Florence, under the protection of Lavreni’s magnificent Medici. There he managed to attract a group of fans thanks to his calls for discharge Italy From corruption within the ruling and the religious elite. The influence of his sermon was quite important, given that in some cases he prompted political reforms that changed aspects of society in Florence in the direction of moderation. Along the way, Savonarola argued that he could do wonders and experience religious visions, resulting in a kind of “worship” in his face.
In February 1497, while Florence was preparing for the carnival, Savonarola and his followers were preparing for a different character: a huge fire in which anything would be considered to be considered very secular or meaningless (books, makeup, artwork, musical instruments and everything related to astrology or paganism). Indeed, on 7 February the so -called “Vanity fire“, Which was literally and metaphorically destructive to the ideals of the Renaissance. It is even said that in this great fire, Sandro Botticelli burned several of his paintings that were drawing on classical themes from classical mythology, although his main biographer George Vazari says the Florentine painter simply did not produce anything, of Savonarola.
Savonarola was condemned as a heretic and executed by hanging on May 23, 1498.
Sure, however, is that Savonarola, except for many fanatical fans, created many fanatical enemies and. Pope Alexander VIII, citing the influence of the Dominican monk on Florence’s political life, posted him on May 13. Eventually, he was sentenced to a heretic and executed by hanging on May 23, 1498 on Piazza de La Sinioria, where he had previously organized the “Fire of Vanity”. And his body then burned. Such was the opposition of the papal authorities to him, that they were confronted that anyone who had in his possession of the monk’s writings had to deliver them to disaster in four days, otherwise he would face himself.
Despite his efforts, however, Savonarola’s influence was maintained, and his texts on ecclesiastical corruption influenced Martin Luther’s views several decades later.
Column: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
