M. MIGNOZZI, Le Vergini dell’abside centrale: alcune considerazioni e nuovi quesiti, in La grotta del Peccato originale a Matera. La gravina, la grotta, gli affreschi, la cultura materiale [Marenostrum, 3], a cura di G. Bertelli, M. Mignozzi, Bari 2013, pp. 174-207, ISBN 978-88-6717-097-5.

This chapter focuses on the iconographic analysis of the fresco located in the central apse of the “Original Sin” rupestrian church. The scene consists of the representation of Mary the Queen with Child and two female figures: saint Lucenzia on the right and an anonymous saint on the left. The key to build a coherent interpretation of the scene, will be provided by the comparisons with frescoes from Early Medieval churches in Rome, and from the crypts of San Vincenzo al Volturno and San Pietro al Monte a Civate. Furthermore, through the analysis of many Catalan Romanic frescoes, this study will confirm that there is a link between the female martyrs and the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25,1-13; so that the two female saints of Matera should be interpreted as two of the wise virgins of Matthew’s parable. Finally, an interesting connection will emerge between this parable and saint Lucy, whose assonance with Lucenzia is a fact.