El Atrium en las Vitas Sanctorum Patrum Emeretensium. ¿Una fórmula de la llamada arquitectura del poder?

Abstract

In this work we pretend to delimitate the meaning of the term atrium in Vitas Sanctorum Patrum Emeretensium. We believe that «atrium» is used by the brief treatise of Mérida with a very precise meaning that does not correspond with the vagueness fo what the architectural language usually expresses with this therm. Using this Font, we try to prove that the form and function of this building correspond to an architectural formula of power, in the Mérida of about the middle of the VIIth century. The comparison witn the Etymologies of Saint Isidore proves that the discourse is not exclusive of Mérida, but rather that atrium is considered in the Visigothic Hispania as a aulic architectural formula, adopted by the religious power.