Talk:Julia of Corsica

Hard to find

This story is hard to pin down, and yet there is a sufficient network of information from a number of historical points to lead us to believe there really was a Saint Julia and those events actually happened. The story and the strongest evidence comes from Victor Vitensis, an African bishop when the Vandals struck there. Unfortunately the MSS handing down the story seem to be lost but Ruinart, a monk at Monte Cassino, saw it and published it. It is considered the work of Vitensis and the latter's known writings are known for their accuracy. He obtained this story by inquiry, apparently in Julia's native region. We can't really call it a legend, now can we? Vitensis was a credible contemporary and there was no universal "legend" of her in his time. It has all the earmarks of truth. What does NOT hold water is that completely absurd version that Gaiseric brought her relics to Corsica! Gaiseric? He invades Africa, subjugates the place, calls all the Christians together, demands they convert to Arianism, kills and tortures many because they will not, exiles others, sells them into slavery, and then piously removes the relics of a Christian to Corsica? Give me a break! So, I am going to change this article accordingly. The main evidence is that she was from Gaiseric's time and suffered under Gaiseric. All this other (excuse me, BS) comes from critics in the early days of scholarship who had not much else to do with their time and wanted to make a name. But, I will retain them as objective alternatives, Wikipedia-style.Dave (talk) 13:28, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Hieronymous Bosche

That pic by Bosche may not be the best. First of all, the identification of her as Julia is not certain. Second, that is a paint-over: careful examination reveals a beard, as the pic was originally a male saint. Bosche did not actually care who he put in there; it was only a thematic representation. I'm in favor of the best accuracy; for example, I could not in good conscience put in a pic of one river and call it another, though I dare say the American reading public gets inflicted with that sort of thing all the time without knowing it. As the article develops, let's see what turns up. We need a better, I think, someone trying to pictorially represent Julia symbolically.Dave (talk) 02:30, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

The 616 date is undefended

I removed this link:

• Saint Julia of Corsica at Patron Saints Index

The reason I did so is this. The author - no one on Wikipedia - attributes the Ruinart-edited story to 616. This gets him or her into an anachronistic circumstance. The Vandals did not take Carthage and it was not taken in 616. We cover the span of the Vandal state in Africa pretty well in Wikipedia: see Vandals#The turbulent end. The upshot is that Belisarius retook Carthage for the empire in 533 and that was the end of the Vandal stay there. I might add that by 616 Corsica was Christian, divided into dioceses, and certainly not under any Roman tribunes. There is a saracen question too which I will address later. The problem is, you can't fit Ruinart's story into it! The muslims did not sacrifice bulls to multiple gods. Sorry, but the whole point of islam is that it is monotheism and I might add we have to invent a piratical moslem occupation of Cap Corse for the supposed martyrdom of 616. I got no idea why the originators of these alternatives wanted to question the 5th century date or why they thought there was anything unclear about it or the story. Un fortunately the Wikipedia authors had no idea either or they would have given us some sources. So, based on the error and the lack of any substantial or credible source I am taking out the phony dates. I have no idea who wrote the patron saints index. Whoever did made a mistake. Anyone can make one. Just because they did does not mean we should repeat it. Thanks.Dave (talk) 02:48, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

Feast Day: May 22 or 23?

After a cursory search online, all the sources ([1], [2], [3]) I immediately found unanimously state May 23. They all seem Roman Catholic though. If the Eastern Orthodox celebrate on May 22, and the Catholics on May 23, this should be mentioned. I've added some {{dubious}} tags for now, instead of changing the date everywhere. --Storkk (talk) 11:04, 1 March 2014 (UTC)