Humanities desk
< November 19	<< Oct \| November \| Dec >>	Current desk >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

November 20

Eighth century plague of Naples

In First plague pandemic it says " the late 8th century plague of Naples described by Neapolitan historian John the Deacon in the following century which would be I assume in the late 700s. Is there some reference someplace that describes more about this particular plague and the years it happened?--Christie the puppy lover (talk) 20:42, 20 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A scourge in Naples about 767 was its last outbreak before it disappeared from Europe as mysteriously as it came, only to reappear as the Black Death in the mid-fourteenth century.

The Power Game in Byzantium: Antonina and the Empress Theodora (p. 159). Alansplodge (talk) 10:46, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A brief mention at The Complete History of the Black Death (p. 124). Alansplodge (talk) 11:04, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Most sources seem to consider this part of the wider cycle of plague commonly called the Plague of Justinian. See [1] or [2], which generally indicate that said plague ran from the "6th to 8th century" broadly speaking. --Jayron 32 19:54, 22 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Resources on

Alberto Maria de Agostini, an Italian missionary and explorer, first wrote about Cueva de las Manos in 1941. What are some resources (books, articles, etc.) that talk about this? So far, I have only found this book:

Germán Sopeña, Monseñor Patagonia: vida y viajes de Alberto de Agostini, el sacerdote salesiano y explorador (Buenos Aires: El Elefante Blanco, 2001).

Can I have some help finding resources that discuss this, perhaps even access to the book Agostini wrote itself? Thank you, Tyrone Madera (talk) 23:36, 20 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

According to this source, De Agostini's first publication mentioning the cave is from 1941. It does not name the publication, which is very likely his Andes patagónicos.^[3] One would expect de Agostini's 1949 book Ande patagoniche (reprinted in 1999^[4]) to also pay attention to the cave. --Lambiam 13:09, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

A brief summary for each chapter of Andes patagónicos is here. A quick scan doesn't show anything obviously relating to the caves.

I think a more likely bet is his book El Lanín y sus alrededores. Parque nacional (1941), but I can't find anything viewable online. This and this both mention that Agostini was the first to mention the caves, but nothing much else. Alansplodge (talk) 14:17, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

According to Google Maps it is rather a trek from the Cueva de las Manos to Lanín, some 1000 km.^[5] --Lambiam 21:18, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Lambiam Perhaps this would have contributed to Agostini's status as a traveler if he made such a trek? He also could have made a good chunk of it on horseback or mule. Tyrone Madera (talk) 22:44, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Lambiam, The second source cited by Alansplodge directly cites De Agostini's Andes patagónicos. Viajes de exploración a la Cordillera Patagónica Austral. I think we've found our culprit maybe? Going to hit up the resource exchange for the book, but I would love more sources on the subject if anyone can find or has any. Tyrone Madera (talk) 23:00, 21 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Treccani's bibliography might help. Mi primera exped. al interior de la cordillera patagonica merid., in Solar (Buenos Aires), 1941, pp. 41-74? fiveby(zero) 14:32, 22 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

fiveby, I'll put that in as an WP:RX request and see if I can get help finding it. Thank you for helping! Tyrone Madera (talk) 18:22, 22 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The first source cited by ASP (not the second), which contains the text of the nomination by Argentina of La Cueva de los Manos for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, states: Cueva de las Manos was first made known by Alberto M. De Agostini in the early 40’s (De Agostini 1941), who published four pictures of the Estancia Río Pinturas with representations of guanacoes and hand stencils. The only publication by de Agostini listed in the Bibliography section (labelled Bibliografía) is indeed his Andes patagónicos. --Lambiam 22:37, 22 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

As I suspected. Thank your for your help! Tyrone Madera (talk) 02:17, 23 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]