The Crypt of San Magno, located in the basement of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata of Anagni, was built at the same time as the church by Bishop Pietro da Salerno, between 1072 and 1104. As a 'hidden place' it served to house the relics of the Saints but today it is considered as the 'summa' of the theological, philosophical and scientific beliefs of the Middle Ages, an indispensable masterpiece.The space has a transversal development with respect to the upper church, following the tripartite plan and the three apses. The space of approx. 540 square meters is punctuated by twelve columns that support twenty-one vaults, the whole extraordinarily decorated by a pictorial cycle that narrates the story of the Salvation of man, from his creation to the end of time (Last Judgement). The frescoes, dating back to the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th century, are unanimously attributed to three workshops of anonymous artists known as the First Master of Anagni or Master of Translations, Second Master of Anagni or Master Ornamentist and Third Master of Anagni.Among the many depictions that still enchant young and old today, here we will mention at least the second vault of the Scientific Cycle where man, represented in his perfection as created in the image and likeness of God, is at the center of a double circular system symbolizing the Cycle of human life (microcosm) and nature (mundus): the universe is based on the proportion of the 4 elements (earth, water, air and fire) in a constant and immutable relationship so as to form a single 'whole'
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