Saint-Maurice d'Agaune : de l'aire funéraire romaine au lieu du culte chrétien

The existence of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice in Valais (Switzerland) is due to the veneration of the martyrs of the Theban Legion. Emperor Maximian decimated those soldiers at the end of the 3^rdcent. near the antique Acaunus, a tollbooth on the road over the pass of the « Grand St-Bernard ». Bishop Theodor found the bones of the soldiers and their commander Maurice in the late 4^th century. By building a basilica near the place of the martyrdom Theodor put on the base for a devotion that spread all over the occidental world. On the perimeter of the Abbey 3 distinct sanctuaries are attested during the 1^st millennium: the martyrial church under the « Martolet » yard, a 2^ndlarge church situated in the same direction under the « Parvis » yard and a baptistery at south between the 2 churches. This article deals with the origins of the 1^stchurch called « du Martolet », in particular about the passage from the roman tomb-area to a place of Christian faith. For the festivities of the 1500^thanniversary of the monastery a monograph devoted to history, archaeology and the treasury of the Abbey will be published and a new museography of the remnants is planned.Trad: Tobia Antonini.