Martyrology, a (Pseudo-)historical Source: the case of Prudentius’ Hymn in Honour of the St. Quirinus

Abstract

This paper deals with the historical value of martyrologies, such as Eugippus’ vita of St. Severinus and especially the poetic transcript of a fourth-century martyrology, the vita of St. Quirinus. Both saints were horrifically executed but later faced a similar fate: their bodies were exhumed and transferred to Italy, and their relics scattered all over the towns of the North Adriatic.