ABSTRACT
The final section provides an overview of the phenomenon of furta sacra in Italy between Late Antiquity and the Central Middle Ages. It references cases of relic theft in the Late Middle Ages and examines the reasons behind the decline, though not the total disappearance, of the practice and its narratives. Factors contributing to this decline include the growing importance of the cult of the Virgin Mary and the shift in the nature of miraculous objects designated to protect cities.
