"Materialità e santità: alcuni nuovi spunti di ricerca sul complesso di Santa Marina ad Ardea"

The paper intends to advance some new hypotheses on the circumstances that led to the construction and decoration of the medieval church of Santa Marina in Ardea, as well as of the annexed hypogeum of Roman origin. To this end, a description of the rooms and their respective decorative programs is first provided, collating the updates of the critical literature with data from unpublished archive documents, and presenting a graphic reworking of the pictorial fragments still visible on the back wall of the hypogeum. Furthermore, a hypothesis on the patronage hitherto only hinted at in the studies is deepened, and the context that may have favoured the establishment of the cult of St. Marina in Ardea is reflected upon. The framework drawn, which includes historical, topographical, archaeological and cultic aspects, therefore aims to stimulate the advancement of research on a sacred complex of great interest, which is, however, in a very precarious state of conservation.