#benevento

Charles I of Anjou over the body of Manfred after the Battle of Benevento on 26 February, 1266

È stata la mano di Dio / The Hand of God Paolo Sorrentino. 2021

Station Via degli Italici, 95, 82026 Morcone BN, Italy See in map

A Janara is, in the tradition of the rural and peasant world of southern Italy, a witch.

The witches would have a particular tree around which realize their rituals. This tree is the walnut, tree that is also associated to Diana, goddess of the Moon, patron of the Wild. The exact location of the walnut is not known, legends says that it was felled by San Barbato, but that another walnut grew in the same spot.

“Unguento unguento, mandame alla noce di Benevento supra acqua et supra vento et supre ad omne maltempo…”

"Ointment, ointment, take me to the Benevento's walnut tree, over water and over wind and over any bad weather" is the formula magica that witches would have pronounced, before taking off towards the Sabbath which took place right under the walnut tree.

A nice book mentions these legends: "Misteri, segreti e storie insolite di Napoli" by Agnese Palumbo and Maurizio Ponticello in the chapter "Benevento, le Janare attorno al Noce".

Some more sources are: https://www.youreporter.it/foto_la_legenda_del_noce_di_benevento_ed_altro/?refresh_ce-cp