Astrology and Pagan Gods in Carolingian ‘Vitae’ of St. Lambert

Abstract

A passing reference to pagan gods in the preface to the MerovingianVita Landibertiinspired a number of poetic elaborations in the reworkings of theLifeof St. Lambert during the late Carolingian period. These include the opening chapters of theCarmen de Sancto Landberto, which deal exclusively with pagan myths; theVersus in Laude Beati Landberti; and passages in theVita Landbertiof Stephen, Bishop of Liege (901–920). This paper is concerned primarily with the first two of these reworkings, which contain the more elaborate treatments of pagan mythology. The inspiration for the inclusion of these passages, as well as the sources for their information about the pagan gods, form a curious chapter in the survival and transformation of the pagan gods in medieval Latin literature.