Nostra Segnora de Mesumundu
Encyclopedia
Nostra Segnora de Mesumundu ("Our Lady of Mesumundu") is a religious building in the territory of Siligo
, Sardinia
, Italy
. Located in the archaeological complex with the same name, it was built during the Byzantine
domination of the island, over a pre-existing Roman
structure.
The Byzantines re-used walls of the Roman baths, as well as the aqueduct. According to some sources, the edifice could have been used as a baptistery. However, it is also possible that it was used for the purification of ill people through an immersion rite.
In the 10th century the structure was donated by the Giudice (duke) Barisone I of Torres
to the Abbey of Montecassino. When monks came from the Italian religious community, they adapted the building for Roman Catholic
use, adding an apse and a new entrance (demolished in 1934). For the work they used materials from the nearby Roman ruins and the nuraghe
Culzu.
Siligo
Siligo is a comune in the region of Logudoro - Meilogu in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about north of Cagliari and about southeast of Sassari....
, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Located in the archaeological complex with the same name, it was built during the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
domination of the island, over a pre-existing Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
structure.
The Byzantines re-used walls of the Roman baths, as well as the aqueduct. According to some sources, the edifice could have been used as a baptistery. However, it is also possible that it was used for the purification of ill people through an immersion rite.
In the 10th century the structure was donated by the Giudice (duke) Barisone I of Torres
Barisone I of Torres
Barison I or Barisone I was the giudice of Arborea from around 1038 until about 1060 and then of Logudoro until his death sometime around 1073. He is the first ruler of Logudoro of whom we have any real knowledge. His whole policy was opposition to Pisa and support of monastic immigration from...
to the Abbey of Montecassino. When monks came from the Italian religious community, they adapted the building for Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
use, adding an apse and a new entrance (demolished in 1934). For the work they used materials from the nearby Roman ruins and the nuraghe
Nuraghe
The nuraghe is the main type of ancient megalithic edifice found in Sardinia. Today it has come to be the symbol of Sardinia and its distinctive culture, the Nuragic civilization...
Culzu.