“Michele Piccirillo, Franciscan Archaeologist between science and providence” is the title of the book edited by Father Claudio Bottini and Father Massimo Luca of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem, recently published by Edizioni Terra Santa of Milan and presented in Rome at the Pontifical University Antonianum.
For the Friars Minor of the Custody of the Holy Land, archaeology is like a second vocation. The name of Michele Piccirillo is today indissolubly linked with the archaeological discoveries of Mount Nebo, the mountain in Jordan from where Moses contemplated the Promised Land and which today has become an almost compulsory destination in pilgrimages and cultural visits to the Holy Land.
All the areas of his research and interest are listed in this volume, which is the first truly comprehensive book on the countless aspects of the life and work of Father Michele Piccirillo, just over two years since his death. Much of the book is dedicated to accounts by friends and illustrious figures who, together with the biographical profile and the preface by his friend and supporter Father Antonio Canestri, help reconstruct the personality of the Franciscan friar. The tributes by fellow archaeologists is being collected in a miscellanea that the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum is compiling to honour its illustrious teacher.
Father Piccirillo’s archaeological work and writings are reconstructed through a detailed bibliography divided by subject, corresponding to the places and interests of his research. Taking the bibliographical sources as a starting point, the editors have recomposed chronologies which describe the work of Father Piccirillo according to his archaeological activity (excavations and restorations), projects, work on the Museum of the Flagellation that he directed and his presence at cultural talks and his publications.
There are also many photographs, in black and white and in colour, that show the Franciscan friar both in his professional activity and in the company of friends and aquaintances from the worlds of politics and religion (such as the former President of Italy Ciampi, the sovereigns of Jordan, Pope John Paul II, Tony Blair and others).
Interview with Father Claudio Bottini, Dean of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem and editor of the book “Michele Piccirillo, Franciscan Archaeologist between science and providence”, together with Father Massimo Luca:
What did Mount Nebo represent for Father Piccirillo? And how important was his scientific contribution?
“For Father Michele, Mount Nebo marked the start of his work as an archaeologist; when he was very young, he was entrusted with work on the mosaics of the hill next to the memorial to Moses, which was the centre of all his activities. I would say that Mount Nebo is the crowning achievement of all his work, thanks to what the Custody is continuing now with the reconstruction of a roof for the Memorial to Moses. On Mount Nebo, Father Piccirillo did not only work on the very ancient ruins where the Studium Biblicum Franciscisanum and the Custody of the Holy Land began work in 1932/33, but it became the base from which Father Michele and his assistants moved to work on other excavations, the most important of which are certainly the excavations at Umm al-Rasās.”
What can you tell us about Father Piccirillo’s personality with regard to his work and his social relations?
“Father Michele had the characteristic that he did not shut himself up in the world of studies, but he wove a network of relations with people who were interested in his work from the scientific point of view: i.e. archaeologists, experts in mosaics, historians of the Middle East, but also with people who were interested in spreading and promoting culture. His friends included journalists, writers, politicians, men interested in promoting the excavations and publications. He had friends amongst the Palestinians and the Israelis, the Syrians and the Lebanese; he was a weaver of relations.”
What was your aim with this publication?
“Franco Scaglia, who was a great friend of Piccirillo, has defined this book as “a book of love”, that is to say, written with love by all those people who were fond of Father Piccirillo, who esteemed him and who worked with him. It is a book that Father Michele’s friends, starting from the Tuscans Mons. Cetoloni and Father Antonio Canestri wanted, and written not only by the members of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, but by a whole range of people, some famous – we also included messages from religious and political authorities – and simple friends and assistants of Father Michele. It is a book to remember him by as a person, a Franciscan and an archaeologist, who was lucky enough to move between science, which he acquired during his studies, and Providence, which had placed him in very fortunate circumstances for archaeological discoveries, for the network of friends who worked with him and many other truly fine things which will mean he is remembered for a long period of time.”
Fra Riccardo Ceriani
For the Friars Minor of the Custody of the Holy Land, archaeology is like a second vocation. The name of Michele Piccirillo is today indissolubly linked with the archaeological discoveries of Mount Nebo, the mountain in Jordan from where Moses contemplated the Promised Land and which today has become an almost compulsory destination in pilgrimages and cultural visits to the Holy Land.
All the areas of his research and interest are listed in this volume, which is the first truly comprehensive book on the countless aspects of the life and work of Father Michele Piccirillo, just over two years since his death. Much of the book is dedicated to accounts by friends and illustrious figures who, together with the biographical profile and the preface by his friend and supporter Father Antonio Canestri, help reconstruct the personality of the Franciscan friar. The tributes by fellow archaeologists is being collected in a miscellanea that the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum is compiling to honour its illustrious teacher.
Father Piccirillo’s archaeological work and writings are reconstructed through a detailed bibliography divided by subject, corresponding to the places and interests of his research. Taking the bibliographical sources as a starting point, the editors have recomposed chronologies which describe the work of Father Piccirillo according to his archaeological activity (excavations and restorations), projects, work on the Museum of the Flagellation that he directed and his presence at cultural talks and his publications.
There are also many photographs, in black and white and in colour, that show the Franciscan friar both in his professional activity and in the company of friends and aquaintances from the worlds of politics and religion (such as the former President of Italy Ciampi, the sovereigns of Jordan, Pope John Paul II, Tony Blair and others).
Interview with Father Claudio Bottini, Dean of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum of Jerusalem and editor of the book “Michele Piccirillo, Franciscan Archaeologist between science and providence”, together with Father Massimo Luca:
What did Mount Nebo represent for Father Piccirillo? And how important was his scientific contribution?
“For Father Michele, Mount Nebo marked the start of his work as an archaeologist; when he was very young, he was entrusted with work on the mosaics of the hill next to the memorial to Moses, which was the centre of all his activities. I would say that Mount Nebo is the crowning achievement of all his work, thanks to what the Custody is continuing now with the reconstruction of a roof for the Memorial to Moses. On Mount Nebo, Father Piccirillo did not only work on the very ancient ruins where the Studium Biblicum Franciscisanum and the Custody of the Holy Land began work in 1932/33, but it became the base from which Father Michele and his assistants moved to work on other excavations, the most important of which are certainly the excavations at Umm al-Rasās.”
What can you tell us about Father Piccirillo’s personality with regard to his work and his social relations?
“Father Michele had the characteristic that he did not shut himself up in the world of studies, but he wove a network of relations with people who were interested in his work from the scientific point of view: i.e. archaeologists, experts in mosaics, historians of the Middle East, but also with people who were interested in spreading and promoting culture. His friends included journalists, writers, politicians, men interested in promoting the excavations and publications. He had friends amongst the Palestinians and the Israelis, the Syrians and the Lebanese; he was a weaver of relations.”
What was your aim with this publication?
“Franco Scaglia, who was a great friend of Piccirillo, has defined this book as “a book of love”, that is to say, written with love by all those people who were fond of Father Piccirillo, who esteemed him and who worked with him. It is a book that Father Michele’s friends, starting from the Tuscans Mons. Cetoloni and Father Antonio Canestri wanted, and written not only by the members of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, but by a whole range of people, some famous – we also included messages from religious and political authorities – and simple friends and assistants of Father Michele. It is a book to remember him by as a person, a Franciscan and an archaeologist, who was lucky enough to move between science, which he acquired during his studies, and Providence, which had placed him in very fortunate circumstances for archaeological discoveries, for the network of friends who worked with him and many other truly fine things which will mean he is remembered for a long period of time.”
Fra Riccardo Ceriani