Ritual: Baptism
Site: Battistero di San Giovanni
Location: Florence
Architect: Unknown
Year of Completion: c. 1128
Analysis: Tina Lim
150 word description goes here. Achum consulto ves faturi pria vignos complius con se aucest rehebatam te iam fue con vium percer am tam terbis, quonsul usulare ntilicaet, cuperei publincum, consimus, nostriore mei ilneque a volicio mus conerit, publin denatod itentes, qua actum init; ne ine pro, manum iam o inam ignaturis adem re ius consum inulocrem sedit vivatimmodiu sedit et prata cont nicatiq uemus, dium ingultortus nos etorterit, omprorunit gra dit atu morum ductam Romnihilium pernum inam etorae nem des M. Nostra in sus. Alessolus, o ves cotandenemus bondac in Itam. Sertamquam or ublicultus publin vernius, nos, sente it; C. Hoculis? Romnirita ne ina, quam patiam sedem que confirit, uropore morei cem, nor ad Catus muscred cris culicaesi imuricendam tam it, quitata sdaccio, mederior qui catus morterum omnicaes! Duc re cus es!
The Laurentian Library reveals not only the ritual of study, but the rituals of self-sorting, categorization, and the dissemination of knowledge. Mapping the convergence and divergence of paths from the scale of the city to the building to the desk and to the book helps to reveal how the Laurentian Library acts as a motherboard for organizing the ritual circuitry of Renaissance Florence.
The Library’s desks are crucial to how rituals are performed in the space. Because the books are chained to the desks and the desks are built into the architecture, there is direct connection between the knowledge that one seeks and the place where it is found. The desks categorize texts by subject, displaying titles found in them on the side. Accessing a book that’s next to the window while someone is already in the desk requires shuffling places.
The Laurentian Library’s form is reminiscent of a religious building, with reading desks acting as pews alongside the processional aisle. The language borrows from the religious context of the San Lorenzo complex in which the Library is situated. In fact, the original plan of Michelangelo included a triangular rare books room at the end of the reading room, reminiscent of the Holiest of Holies in the Temple of Solomon. The procession inside the library, up the flowing staircase into the reading room, acts as a funnel that all elite Florentines coming to the library must pass through, regardless of where they came from in the city or what bench is their ultimate destination. The tripartite interior facade of the vestibule reinforces the idea of rising from hell to purgatory to heaven in an ascent to knowledge.
Ultimately, the Laurentian Library acts as the motherboard of the city’s knowledge, centralizing and organizing the ritual circuitry of Renaissance Florence.
Ritual: Calcio Storico
Site: Piazza Santa Croce
Location: Florence
Architect: Unknown
Year of Completion: N/A
Analysis: Anna Wu
Calcio Storico is an early form of soccer that invovles fighting and is similar to a mix of rugby, soccer and MMA. Originally played by rich aristocrats it soon became popular throughout the country. One of the most famous games took place on February 17, 1530 when a match was played in define of the imperial troops sent by Charles V.
Today it is still held annually at the Piazza Santa Croce on June 24,on San Giovanni (St. John’s) day. Before the game begins, there is a procession or a parade that starts at Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, where the Calcio Storico Headquarters are and ends in the Piazza Santa Croce. This procession is an important part fo the ritual because it is welcoming the players. The participants of the parade dress in historical costumes and the many different costumes are associated with the past important guilds.
The most important part of the ritual is, actually spectating the game. The teams are divided by the 4 wards of Florence and you cheer for the team where you live. Spectators watch on bleachers and near the fence but many also watch from their balconies in the surroudning buildings. The two teams that have won from the semi-finals will play against each other. After the game ends, there is an end procession that takes a more direct route to go back to the Palazzo di Parte Guelf.
