Original scientific paper
CANTHAROS MOTIF ON EARLY CHRISTIAN MOSAICS FROM SALONITAN WORKSHOPS
Branko Matulić
; Spli, Regionalni zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture
Abstract
Cantharos is one of the most frequent motifs that appear on Early Christian mosaics made in Salonitan workshops. Several very fine representations of cantharos have been preserved in the mosaic floor of the southern main congregational church in the Episcopal complex in Stari Grad on the Island of Hvar. A medallion with doves drinking water from a cantharos and a mosaic with peacocks near another cantharos were discovered. To the north and south of the peacocks a smaller mosaic carpets were found. Each has the same cantharos from which ivy tendrils spring. So far three figural compositions are known on the Croatian coast. First is a famous,but unfortunately missing representation of a deer from the consignatorium of the Episcopal centre in Salona. Then, deers on a mosaic in the Zadar Cathedral, and only a fragment of a destroyed composition from Salona with the head of a deer licking dew from the treeof life.Frist type has a funnel-like neck and characteristic fluted belly with three or more flutes topped by a wide funnel-like neck with a large mouth. From the mouth start S shaped handles and rest on the ribs of the vase. The knob connects the belly with a triangular or more rarely rectangular foot. To this type belong two cantharoi from the consignatorium of the episcopal centre in Salona and that found in the complex of the Zadar Cathedral. The cantharos with peacocks from Stari Grad and that from the basilica at Kapljuč in Salona, are creative variations of this same type.The cantharos with doves from the mosaic medalion and those to the north and southof the peacock motif, from Stari Grad, belong to the second type. This type has a narrow neck, disproportionately narrower than the mouth and handles which spring from the belly to be perfectly fused with the mouth. There are often variants of this type as well. All mentioned cantharoi, regardless of the type were produced by craftsmen from thesame school-workshop whose centre was in Salona. Its impact spread wherever Salona's influence as the main Early Christian centre was felt.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
117968
URI
Publication date:
10.2.1992.
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