Comenius Project 2013-2015

Ancient Wisdom: Lessons of the Life for the 21st century

The Legend ofthe Sybil of the Apeninnes

I.T.T. MontaniFermo – Italy

29th January 2014

AUTOBIOGRAPHYANDREA DA BARBERINO

Andrea Dei Mangabatti

was nicknamed “DaBarberino” because he wasborn in BarberinoValdesa in1370 and died in 1432.He was a jester whoperformed in the historicFlorentine square of St. Martinthe Bishop.He wrote a knighthood novel:“Il Guerrin Meschino”.

THE AUTHOR

He wrote other works such as:The Royal of France and sometranslations of the CarolingianChansons de geste. He composed popular literature forthe middle classes like the merchants’and the artisans’. He put at the center of his worksadventures and magical creaturesinterpreted according to the Christian point of view. Consequently he worked out anegative interpretation of the

Sybil,probably for the first time. As she isnow seen as an evil character.

THE AUTHOR

He starts his journey from

Durres

He arrives in front of the Sybil’s cave

He resists all the Sybil’s temptations

The Pope forgives him

Guerrin starts his journey back

He finds his parents in Duress

He is torn out from his parents

Guerrin Meschino

THE TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD

Guerrin was a knight who travelled around the world to find his parents without success. Consequently he decided to ask the help of a female foreseer: the Sybil of the Apennines.

THE SYBIL’S CAVE

After several difficulties he arrived in front of the Sybil’s cave, which still exists and it is near Montemonaco in the Sibillini mountains.In front of the cave he found three girls who welcomed him to come inside.

THE SYBIL OF THE APENNINES

When Guerrin came in front of the Sybil, first of all the prophetess listened to the knight’s reasons of his visit. Then she started to seduce him in order to make him fall in love with her and commit sin.And she also promised to help him and to tell him where his parents were.

THE DESCRIPTION OF

THE SYBILThe Sybil that Guerrinomeets in the cave is:dressed in very

adornedand rich clothes, thatshow off her soft and light skin.She uses sweet words

anda lot of cerimonial acts,together with herfascinating words.

GUERRIN MESCHINO

AND THE SYBIL

Guerrin spent nearly one

year in the Sybil’s cave and he resisted all her temptations. However, he didn’t

obtainher help, so he decided

torestart his journey

THE CONFESSION OF

SINS

The cavalier regretted being in the cave and after leaving that evil place, he went to Rome to ask for the Pope’s forgiveness for his sins.So the Pope forgave him and gave him some money and his blessing to go on with his search.

THE MEETING WITH

HIS PARENTSThanks to God’s Providence, Guerrin came back to Durazzo, to defend King Guiscard from the Saracens.In this occasion, he set two old prisoners free and he found out that they were King Milone and Queen Fenisia: his parents.

A small but…

wonderful country

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION