Vulnerability and devotion: St Emygdius, a divine protector against Guatemala earthquakes

Abstract

In the field of the religiosity linked to the earthquakes in the Kingdom of Guatemala, several saints were invoked by the communities to deal with the seismic scourge. Among them, there is St Emygdius, a martyr saint celebrated in hagiographic sources for his work as bishop of Ascoli, in Italy, and venerated since 1703 as a heavenly protector against telluric phenomena, is particularly noteworthy. This article aims to explore, by analyzing archival documentation and visual sources of the period, aspects linked to the origin and promotion of this cult in the second half of the 18th century, when Emigdio was consecrated as the official protector of Ciudad de Guatemala. Figurative production reflects the devotional enthusiasm for this saint, especially in the medium-sized paintings found in churches, museums and private collections. A survey of the various representations of the saint that have been found has revealed a certain coherence in the iconographic appearance, based on a common model codified between Naples and Spain. This is a first approximation to the history of this devotion, which follows a pattern also shared in other American territories frequently threatened by earthquakes.