The rise of Purgatory in medieval Compostela, tenth to twelfth centuries: from private donations to public representations

A study of Santiago de Compostela's Old Town reveals how the concept of Purgatory evolved from private post-mortem penance to a widely recognized intermediate afterlife state between the 10th and 12th centuries. Initially rooted in Galician documentary sources, 'pro anima mea' donations by individuals for their souls were strategically promoted by the Church of Santiago de Compostela in the late 11th century, reinforcing belief in a temporary, reducible torment in the afterlife. This dissemination culminated in the mid-12th century with the first public representations of Purgatory, notably in the 'De sanctitate meritorum et gloria miraculorum beati Caroli Magni' and the 'Portico de la Gloria' in Santiago's Cathedral. The research traces this shift from private practice to institutionalized belief through a close analysis of documentary evidence and architectural/artistic representations.

Sánchez, X. M. (2025). The rise of Purgatory in medieval Compostela, tenth to twelfth centuries: from private donations to public representations. Journal of Medieval Iberian Studies, 18(1), 21–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/17546559.2025.2540911