Original scientific paper
Diocletian’s Mausoleum – from Bishop’s Intentions to Poljica Villages
Vladimir Marković
Abstract
The sanctuaries in the villages of Dubrava and Sitno Gornje in the Poljica region near Split have been modeled after the Cathedral of Split, i. e., Diocletian’s Mausoleum. These links have already been noticed by C. Fisković (1950/51.) and N. Jakšić (2003., 2006.),. who have dated their centralized sanctuaries covered by a blind dome to the 15th – 16th century According to this author, the sanctuary of the church of St. Luke in Dibrva is the oldest of the group. It was added to a Romanesque nave by Ugrinović, Bishop of Smederevo, who placed into that mausoleum-like space his tomb plaque dated 1577 (the side chapels are later, the left even from the 19th ct.). Among the recently discovered plans of the Cathedral of Split in Rome, there is also a drawing of a ground plan proposing an addition of a long nave. Ugrinović was certainly aware of the intentions of the Bishops of Split. and they may have served as an inspiration for his decision to build in his native village a church reminiscent of the Cathedral, albeit in a simplified, rustic form. This inspired the addition of rather large octagonal sanctuary covered by a blind dome to the Romanesque church of St. Klement in Sitno Gornje. At the same time a room was constructed above the aisle of the church and linked by an opening to the sanctuary. According to a living tradition, the church serves as the place of confi rmation of the Statue of Poljica, so that room was added most likely to accommodate the accompanying ceremonies. The model was repeated in the 18th century in the same village, but the nave and the sanctuary were built simultaneously. The nave appears to have been vaulted only in the 19th century along with the new windows. The Poljica churches with a longitudinal nave and a sanctuary covered by a dome deserve a special place in the architecture of Dalmatia. There are very few churches in Dalmatia, the Pre-Romanesque period being an exception, that combine a longitudinal nave with a dome. Such churches were mostly constructed in major Dalmatian cities, Zadar and Dubrovnik in the 27th and 18th century. They follow types established by major centers such as Venice or Rome. However, in the small Poljica villages we fi nd solutions inspired by the bishop’s city nearby and the events linked to its Cathedral. The rural element is clearly visible in inadequate capacity for reception, construction quality, the skills of building and stone-cutting, and the choice, place and syntax of architectural decoration.
Keywords
Split Cathedral; Poljica churches; architectural models
Hrčak ID:
148668
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2007.
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