The “Ruinscape”, Traveling Bodies, and Images: The Case of Spolia in Moissac Abbey

Abstract

The present article examines the use and functions of spolia within the architecture of Moissac Abbey, France, during the late 11^th and 12^th centuries. The overarching goal of the text is to delve into the question of how the medieval monastery rewrote, reused, and reproduced the antique past through various media. It explores how the practice of spoliation contributed to the monastery’s establishment as both a sacred space and a strong political and cultural center. The spoliated elements are further anchored and interpreted within their particular material context as bearers of iconological significance that may contribute to our understanding of the iconography of the abbey’s sculptural decoration. Moreover, based on visual comparisons from across the region, it is argued that Moissac actively participated in the creation of an extensive sacred ecosystem interconnected by the constantly reminiscent memory of the ancient past, which is maintained and extended by the movement of human bodies.