In many spheres of the practical and intellectual life the Middle Ages build on the knowledge, structures and achievements of the antique age. They also integrate them in various ways in their own cultural order. Even in medieval towns the ancient street patterns, fortifications and prominent buildings determined the local structure, which was absorbed and adapted to new requirements. This happened by abandoning certain areas, by converting buildings or by putting up new structures on top of them. Learning, science and arts of the antique age were appreciated by royal courts and monasteries. Many works of antique literature were copied, commented on or rearranged. Antique precious objects were kept in treasuries. They were given away as gifts; and were often even fashioned into new objects. These however are only a few examples for the intense occupation with antique culture during the Middle Ages.
In recent decades archaeological research has intensively explored the late antique age. The interest concentrated on the transformation of the antique repertoire in a changed political and religious environment. It also covered continuing existence and activity of daily life structures as well as styles. In the 20th century German medievalist research in fields of history and art for a long time paid particular attention to reception of antiquity in the context of Carolingian and Ottonian Renovatio Imperii, i.e. ruler’s strategy of legitimation as well as to the renaissance of science in the 12th century. Recent publications identify the continuation and modifications of antique administration procedures, terms of guidance, legal codes and text-books. They also reflect upon medieval ideas and fictions about the antique age.
The present volume takes up these new initiatives. It is based on a colloquium held by two research centres of the Philosophical Faculty of Cologne University. i.e. the “Centre for Mediterranean Cultures (Zakmira)” and the “Centre for Medieval Studies”. The contributions by various authors from the departments of archaeology, history, Judaic studies, history of art, medieval Latin and philosophy present and compare from the interdisciplinary point of view numerous varied phenomena of continuing utilization and new interpretation of antique works in different fields.
The terms “Persistence” and “Reception” in the title of this volume refer to the various kinds of continuing existence related to the antique age during the Middle Ages. “Persistence” aims at the tenacity of antique relics and at the apparently obvious acceptance and continuation of transmitted forms, subjects and structures. “Reception” accentuates the deliberate acceptance of distinct cultural forms of the antique age by the cultural elite of medieval society. Thus the different perspectives of antiquity and of medievalist science are accommodated. Disciplines are brought together which usually are separated by subject and methods.