Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena
Beginning in the 13th century, rivalry among Italian city-states intensified, transforming cultural competition into a strategic tool for asserting identity. Roman heritage was often contested, with cities emphasising their claims as the true heirs of Rome. Siena has faced criticism for its lack of...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/337 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849340070101778432 |
|---|---|
| author | Ming Yin |
| author_facet | Ming Yin |
| author_sort | Ming Yin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beginning in the 13th century, rivalry among Italian city-states intensified, transforming cultural competition into a strategic tool for asserting identity. Roman heritage was often contested, with cities emphasising their claims as the true heirs of Rome. Siena has faced criticism for its lack of major historical sites. In response, its municipal authorities and citizens developed the legends of the “she-wolf” and Saint Ansanus. These legends reinforced Siena’s urban identity through historical narratives and public art. During the Renaissance, Siena redefined its history to assert its legitimacy by drawing on classical culture. This re-articulation of identity addressed historical rivalries and revealed the enduring complexity of local identity formation in Italy. This study examines historical legends and uses historical materials, such as city archives and artworks, to research the Italian city of Siena during the Renaissance and to investigate the origins of urban legends, their controversies, and how Siena created the legends of the “she-wolf” and Saint Ansanus. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-366a9701e6fc4ae9b123e3c99ad752bf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-366a9701e6fc4ae9b123e3c99ad752bf2025-08-20T03:44:00ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-03-0116333710.3390/rel16030337Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance SienaMing Yin0World History Department, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, ChinaBeginning in the 13th century, rivalry among Italian city-states intensified, transforming cultural competition into a strategic tool for asserting identity. Roman heritage was often contested, with cities emphasising their claims as the true heirs of Rome. Siena has faced criticism for its lack of major historical sites. In response, its municipal authorities and citizens developed the legends of the “she-wolf” and Saint Ansanus. These legends reinforced Siena’s urban identity through historical narratives and public art. During the Renaissance, Siena redefined its history to assert its legitimacy by drawing on classical culture. This re-articulation of identity addressed historical rivalries and revealed the enduring complexity of local identity formation in Italy. This study examines historical legends and uses historical materials, such as city archives and artworks, to research the Italian city of Siena during the Renaissance and to investigate the origins of urban legends, their controversies, and how Siena created the legends of the “she-wolf” and Saint Ansanus.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/337Sienaurban legendscultural memoryidentity |
| spellingShingle | Ming Yin Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena Religions Siena urban legends cultural memory identity |
| title | Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena |
| title_full | Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena |
| title_fullStr | Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena |
| title_short | Fact, Fiction, and Legend: Writing Urban History and Identity in Medieval and Renaissance Siena |
| title_sort | fact fiction and legend writing urban history and identity in medieval and renaissance siena |
| topic | Siena urban legends cultural memory identity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/3/337 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mingyin factfictionandlegendwritingurbanhistoryandidentityinmedievalandrenaissancesiena |