Inscribing Spiritual Authority: the Temptation of St. Benedict Capital in the Narthex at Vézelay

A rare medieval capital depicting the Temptation of St. Benedict at Vézelay's Church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine was strategically positioned to confront monks with a warning about resisting sexual temptation, particularly concerning women in the narthex—a transitional space symbolizing Galilee. The inscription labeling a woman as 'DIABOLVS' underscored the monastic emphasis on celibacy during a period of conflict over spiritual authority. This study reveals how the capital's placement opposite the Pentecost tympanum and Eucharistic imagery reinforced the monks' salvific mission, mirroring the Apostles' role in a ritualized context. Through iconographic analysis of neighboring artworks and liturgical processions, the research demonstrates how text and image collaboratively conveyed theological and social messages during medieval worship.

Tanton, K. (2013). Inscribing Spiritual Authority: the Temptation of St. Benedict Capital in the Narthex at Vézelay. Viator, 44(3), 125–155. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.viator.1.103481