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EARLY CHRISTIAN ALTAR IN GATA
Jasna Jeličić Radonić
; Split, Regionalni zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture
Sažetak
The altar of an Early Christian church at Gata, that unique double shell central structure from the 6th century was placed in the main apse of its tri-conch centre. It was raised above the rectangular confessio situated in the central axis of the presbitery. Among the fragments of the church interior some parts of the altar, consisting of several different elements, were found. Its mensa is made of yellowish-white marble with the characteristic moulding framing its concave surface. The small pillars, supporting the mensa are made of white marble with achantus capitals of classical form and were fixed to the base made of bituminous limestone. On the basis of these elements it might be assumed that an Early Christian altar in Gata belongs to that simple type of altar mensa very common in the Early Christian churches of the Roman Province of Dalmatia (numerous Salonitan basilicas, Sv. Stjepan at Sumpetar, churches at Sutivan, Postira, Lovrečina etc.) and in other provinces in the Empire. However, the archaeological excavations of the Gata church have yielded some finds which together with the mentioned fragments would suggest another altar type. That is so called cippus type which is of a more recent origin when relics were placed inside the altar. The closest parallels to the cippus altar Eufrasius' altar in Porec and other famous altars in the Ravenna Early Christian basilicas from the 6th century (in Neonian Baptistery, two altars in S. Apollinare in Classe, in the Basilica Pomposa, Bagnocavallo etc.). Since the Early Christian plastic of the Gata church reveals some elements similar to the cippus altar Ravenna, general reconstruction of its original appearance might be assumed. This altar type, so popular in Ravenna, spread to the surrounding area and the upper Adriatic, might have originated the Ravenna workshops after models from Constatinople. This does not exclude the possibility of direct import from the latter's workshops. The altar Gata can be discussed in this context. Its cippus stands out from the other parts --the mensa, pillars and base which are typical products of the local workshops. It is close in shape to those from Ravenna, but differs from them in the peculiar rendering of its sculpture executed in champleve technique. The origin of this peculiar Late Roman technique should be looked for in Oriental workshops. The Oriental origin of the Gata cippus in also suggested by its iconographic representation of Resurrection executed in the lunetta above fenestella confessionis, again in champleve technique. The cippus with fenestella confessionis in the Early Christian church at Gata stands out from those forms of the Early Christian altars in the province of Dalmatia known about up to now. Judging from numerous finds, the oldest type of altar mensa with four corner pillars supporting the mensa must have been much more popular and were longer lasting. That is why the Gata altar is an exception which perfectly fits into the centre of equally special early Byzantine structure from Justinian's time.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
118163
URI
Datum izdavanja:
18.3.1991.
Posjeta: 1.985 *