We’re happy to share our latest publication: “Holy Bodies: An Atlas of the Corpi Santi in Portugal”, now featured in Química (series II / no. 176 / vol. 49), the journal of the Portuguese Chemical Society (Sociedade Portuguesa de Química).
This short article, authored by HB PI Teresa Ferreira, explores the Holy Bodies project and how this project conducts interdisciplinary approaches to study, preserve, and safeguard this singular artistic-religious heritage.
This internship will allow students to join a research team and work with cutting-edge equipment to help answer questions raised by historians, art historians, conservators, and museologists.
The programme includes study visits to the Public Library of Évora and to several sites in Lisbon where some of the corpi santi under study are preserved, always accompanied by an art historical contextualisation. Students will also participate in a paleography session, exploring techniques for reading ancient handwriting, as well as several laboratory-based activities focused on analytical characterisation and 3D digitisation.
This internship is aimed at secondary school students (10th to 12th grade) and includes lunch. Accommodation will also be provided for students coming from outside Évora.
Ricardo Falé | BSc Biotechnology (UÉ) Ricardo is working on the analytical characterisation of three simulacra: St Semuc and St Fortunato (@scmalmada set) and St Clemente (Palácio Nacional de Queluz). His research will focus on identifying (di)similarities between these religious artefacts.
Suarlin Cordova | EMJMD ARCHMAT Suarlin’s Master Thesis, “Lives and Legacies” will explore the skeletal remains and archaeological assemblage of Jesuit professors from the University of Évora, uncovered during excavations on a chapel of Igreja do Espírito Santo (Évora, 2020/2021). Suarlin will analyse stable isotopes to reconstruct diet and conduct a comprehensive analytical study of burial-associated objects, contributing to the HB and @inosteo_ projects. Both works will be developed at @herculeslaboratory
Beatriz is opening new doors in the HB project, launching a topic that has never been explored. As a designer, she will focus on communication, presenting an engaging and effective strategy to (re)introduce simulacra to the public. Beatriz will delve into the anthropological significance and role of simulacra in shaping religious identity, exploring how these artefacts have been perceived and valued. The next step is to develop an innovative app and a curated visual identity to document and catalog simulacra across Portugal. This work will develop tangible and digital approaches to raise awareness and ensure simulacra preservation. We’ll gradually reveal the coming steps.
From now on, simulacra will finally “have a voice” in their physical context, whether in churches, monasteries, or private houses.
On March 18th, HB & HERCULES Laboratory team members took part in the Cientificamente Provável program – an initiative that fosters knowledge exchange and enriches students’ learning journeys. Teresa Ferreira (HB PI) and Joana Palmeirão (HB postdoc) led a short talk, introducing key concepts like simulacra, relics, heritage, and science, and explaining how they intertwine. Students then dove into a hands-on dyeing workshop, recreating historical techniques to colour textile fibres using natural products. We also showcased 3D digitization and gave students the chance to step into virtual reality, immersing themselves in a digital world where some of the simulacra from the HB project are already preserved.
We thank our team: Cristina Dias, Joana Palmeirão, Luís Sousa, Marius Araújo, and Teresa Ferreira. A Special thanks to Isabel Gameiro from Escola Secundária André de Gouveia for her enthusiasm and coordination, and to all the students who embraced this activity.
From 10th-14th and 18th-20th February, our team embarked on a fieldwork campaign in Lisbon and its surroundings. From historic churches to palaces and monasteries, we meticulously studied an array of simulacra at:
– Igreja Paroquial de St Nicolau, Igreja de St Maria Madalena, Igreja de St António, and Convento dos Cardaes (Lisbon) – Capela do Palácio Caldas (CDS headquarters, Lisbon) – Palácio dos Marqueses de Pombal (Oeiras) – Convento de St. António de Varatojo (Torres Vedras) – Palácio Nacional de Queluz (Queluz)
Our interdisciplinary team—conservators, chemists, biological anthropologist, digital humanities experts, and photographers—worked in situ to document, analyse, digitise, and preserve this (still) underappreciated religious heritage.
But can you imagine how many simulacra were under focus?
St Bonifácio, St Vitória, St Fulgêncio, St Justina, St Vitório, St Eleonora, St Vitória, St Burcio, St Benedito & St Clemente!
Soon, they will be part of our upcoming database, where you’ll be able to explore the insights Holy Bodies is uncovering.
This week, we had the privilege of participating in the 5th IN2PAST meeting at the University of Minho, Braga. We presented two communication panels, namely:
Advancing knowledge on the simulacra set of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada – the case of St Clementina and St Simplício
Digital preservation and interpretation of religious artefacts: the Holy Bodies project.
The conference was an inspiring platform for interdisciplinary discussions about heritage and its profound impact on society.
Additionally, HB’s Principal Investigator, Teresa Ferreira, had the honor of moderating a thought-provoking discussion on interdisciplinary challenges in heritage studies. This session shed light on how HB bridges Heritage and STEM, showcasing its potential to reach and benefit a diverse audience.
A short seminar will be led by Antonio J. Díaz Rodríguez, a distinguished professor from the University of Córdoba, renowned for his expertise and contributions within relics’ subject. This free seminar is available for all students, professors and researchers who want to join us.
*27th January – 16h00* Sala 124 do Colégio do Espírito Santo, Universidade de Évora
From 17th-23rd November, our researchers Fernanda Olival, Teresa Ferreira, Joana Palmeirão and Ana Curto travelled to Rome for an intensive fieldwork campaign to conduct archival research at the Vatican Apostolic Library and the Archives of the Vicariate of Rome. This campaign primarily focused on uncovering historical records related to the corpi santi sent to Portugal from the 16th century onward. They explored several critical gaps, including:
Who requested these relics? Were they assembled in Rome before being sent, or was this process done entirely in Portugal? What procedures governed their transport and delivery?
More updates on the findings from this research mission are coming soon!
Today’s workshop was a full house right from the moment registrations opened! 🙌
We had an incredible time exploring digitisation techniques and online dissemination of heritage, sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas with researchers and students. A warm thank you to Marius Araújo for leading this workshop and ARTERIA_Lab for the support.
