Preindustrial urban religion spilled from temples into street corners

Evidence

Nor was individual religious expression confined to the city’s temples, churches, or other sacred areas. In twelfth century Venice, for example, “small tabernacles were placed at many corners, wherein a lamp was lighted to honor a saint [and, incidentally] to illuminate passersby at the same time” (Comhaire and Cahnman, 1962:62). — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 206

Categorization

• CANDY: Twelfth-century Venetian street shrines doubling as streetlights is a charming concrete detail for conversation.