Original scientific paper
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SA VIOUR AT THE SOURCE OF THE CETINA RIVER
Ivo Petricioli
; HR -23000 Zadar, Kralja Zvonimira 10
Abstract
The Church ofthe Holy Saviour at the source ofthe Cetina River first drew the attention of V Lago in 1870, who emphasized its unusual form. lt was subsequently described by G. Alačević in 1881, while L. Marun offered a detailed description and published a·photograph in 1895, however the local Serbian population refused to let him undertake further research. This was accomplished later by S. Gunjača, who investigated and conserved the church in several stages from 1947 to 1953, also performing excavation ofthe large mediaeval cemetery surrounding the church. The church has retained its originalform. II contains apresbytmum with three apses, and a narthex wilh a balcony on the upper floor, which would correspond to the so-called "westwork" of Carolingian architecture, as well as a belfry on the facade. Rounded buttresses are arranged densely on the lateral walls.
Many authors have cited the scientific value of this unusual architectural form, particularly because of the Carolingian westwork preserved in it. S. Gunjača had already compared the Church ofthe Holy Saviour to two other three-aisled churches with rounded butresses, only the plan ofwhich had been preserved. Others noted the remains of a single naved church at Lopu6ka Glavica near Knin, which also had rounded buttresses. Similarities were noted to three conch early Christian churches in Dalmatia.
The author noted as far back as 1972 that the religious furnishings, remains of which had been found in churches with rounded butressess, had common seulptural and stylistic characteristics corresponding to certain e;xamples ofreligious structures on which the names of the Dux TIPimir a1d Dux Branimir can be distinguished, such that the entire complex of rhese churches can be dated with certainty to the second half of the 9th C;entury. The use ofbuttresses makes it evident that the churches had arched roofs, whether single naved or three-aisled, an element because ofwhich they can be cited as a very original form within the totality of European pre-Romanesque architecture. This architectural style can be considered as an imparlant contribution by architects in the early mediaeval Croatian state.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
93604
URI
Publication date:
27.12.1995.
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