The Indiculus superstitionum et paganiarum: a controversy reviewed

Abstract

The Indiculus superstitionum et paganiarum represents a list on superstitions we encounter in Cod. Pal. Lat. 577, fol. 7r. Its origin, function and provenance have been disputed by historians ever since its discovery in the seventeenth century. Over the centuries, two camps started ruling the debate: 'camp Boniface' and 'camp Charlemagne'. Where one camp argues for the Bonifatian origin of the list, the other camp seems convinced that the list was compiled during the early reign of Charlemagne. This thesis re-evaluates influential theories from both camps and on which assumptions they rest. In the end, with the re-evaluation of the theories in mind, a new approach on the text will be proposed, pointing the way for future research.