The Legend of Sisinnio

What I love the most in S. Clemente’s Basilica is the fresco about the legend of Sisinnio, otherwise known as the Second Miracle of S. Clemente. It dates back to XI century and you can admire it in the Lower Basilica. You already checked its floorplans here, did you?

It is not something that you would expect to find inside a church: its style is very dynamic and naive... funny, I may dare to say.

You can think about it like some educational comic book. This is quite an important point to remember when you visit ancient churches. Their paintings were not much intended to celebrate the Glory of God as much to teach to simple and ignorant people unable to read. To use modern language: common people were artist’s target not the local aristocracy or God Himself.

The story: we are at the end of the I century A.C. and Sisinnio was a praefectus in Rome, a civil official. Secretly S. Clemente managed to convert his wife Teodora to Christianity. Not only: the saint persuaded her into a chastity vow. You may imagine that Sisinnio could not explain it and he was not very happy about it! What would have you thought being in his shoes? He resolved to follow her with a few servants to surprise her with his lover. Imagine his shock when Teodora entered the underground catacombs and she finally reached the big hall where S. Clemente celebrated the Mass with many faithfuls. Sisinnio was furious. He ordered his servants to tie S. Clemente and to drag him to jail. But the Good Lord did not allow it and he made all of them blind instantly. So they got confused and tied a column instead of the Saint. Imagine again their frustration while they try to move “S. Clemente” away. This is the lowest of three scenes portrayed by the artist. If you observe it you can distinctly see Sisinnio shouting: “Traite, fili de puta”. Any Italian could easily understand it for “Pull, sons of a bitch!” 1,000 years later. Another one incites his fellows: “Albertel, trae” (“Pull, Little Albert”). A third one advise: “Carvoncel, falite dereto colo palo” (“Carboncel, leverage behind him with the pole”). It is worthwhile to notice that the dialogue could have been written by a Hollywood writer: the “bad guys” are dumb and speak the “vulgar” language typical of ignorant people at those times. The “hero” speaks a perfect and learned Latin: “Duritiam cordis vestri saxa trahere meruisti” (“You deserved to drag stones due to the unsensitivity of your hearts”).

I can’t help to smile thinking that the first evidence of Italian language is a “sons of a bitch” painted by an artist inside a church. I think it says a lot about Italy...

To be honest erudites state that the first Italian sentence is “Sao ke kelle terre pe kelli fini trenta anni li possette parte Sancti Benedicti”. It is the declaration of a witness during a trial in 960 AC. He declares that the Monastery of St. Benedict had been owning a certain land for 30 years. Reality is that you can’t tell 100% which one came first. I guess that erudites feel more comfortable talking about lawyers instead of sons of bitch at workshops...

You can find an acceptable photo of the fresco here.