Paulinus of Périgueux (Petricordia)

PAOLINO di PÉRIGUEUX (Petricordia). - At the invitation of Archbishop Perpetuo, he wrote around 470 a Life of St Martin in hexameters.

The first 3 books are based on the Vita s. Martini of Sulpicius Severus; books IV and V depend on the two dialogues by the same author, while book VI renders into verse a collection of miracles of St Martin, assembled by Archbishop Perpetuo of Tours. For the new basilica of the saint at Tours, built by Perpetuo, P. wrote a metrical inscription. Moreover, the « Versus Paulini de visitatione nipotuli sui » recount a new miracle of Martin. Stylistically, P. is influenced by Virgil, Ovid, Catullus (v. C. Weyman, Beiträge zur Geschichte der christlich-lateinischen Poesie, Monaco 1926, p. 140 sg), Juvencus, and Sedulius.

BIBL.: ed. by M. Petschening in CSEL, 16, p. 1 sg. Studies: A. Huber, Die poetische Beschreibung der Vita s. Martini des Sulpicius Severus durch P. V. P., Kempten 1901; J. Chase, in Harv. Stud. for Class. Philol., 1932, p. 51 sg.; V. also P. Courcelle, Histoire littéraire des grandes invasions germaniques, Parigi 1948, pp. 142 and 233 sg., note. Erik Peterson
Cite this article

“PAOLINO DI PÉRIGUEUX (PETRICORDIA).” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. IX (1952), p. 442. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/paolino-di-perigueux-petricordia.