Original scientific paper
GABLES OF THE CANCELLI FROM CRKVINA AT BISKUPIJA NEAR KNIN
Nikola Jakšić
; Split
Abstract
A quantity f fragments of sacral stone object has been found at the mediaeval locality called Crkvina at Biskupija near Knin, where the foundations of the early Croatian St. Mary church were discovered. The said fragments bear stylistical characteristics of the mediaeval interlaced plastic art typical during the period between the 9th and 12th centuries. Among those numerous fragments we have found some parts of the tympanums that once stood above the passages through the iconostasis. The ground-plan of the Crkvina locality shows that the church had a nave and two aisles so that there were three passages trough the iconostasis to the shrine. This also means that there were three gables. At Crkvina, however, fragments have been escavated pertaining to twelve gables. According to their number, we may conclude that the iconostasis was changed or renewed several times. Here is an attempt at grouping the gables making a whole of the iconostasis in various tages.
The analysis of individual decorative elements on the gables of respective fragments – hooks, crosses, braids, birds, palmettoes and the like – yields the following situation: the first group comprises the gables Nos. 1, 2 and 3 (T. I), the second group comprises the gables Nos. 4, 5 and 6 (T. II), the third group comprises the fragments Nos. 7 and 8 (T. III, fig. 1 and 2) the fourth group comprises the gables Nos. 9, 10 and 11 (T. IV fig. 1, 2 an 3). The fragment No. 12 (T-IV, fig. 4) is not possible to e associated with any group of gables.
The gable No. 4 (T. II, fig. 1) is the only one that has been more precisely dated in the literature, viz. the second half of the 11th century, which fact made it possible to date the whole of the second group (T. II).
The gables Nos. 9, 10 and 11 (T. IV. fig. 1, 2, 3) I propose to date in the second half of the 9th century, since they have stylistical properties similar to the gable from Šopot near Benkovac (T. IV, fig. 4) which has been considered to belong to the time of the Croatian prince Branimir.
It has not been possible for the gables Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to assign them to the first stage, since the inscription on the gable No. 3 (T. I, fig. 3) says about the renewal of something that was pulled down (a church or the iconostasis itself).
As the Church of St. Mary at Biskupija was erected as early as in the beginning of the 9th century, we cannot hel assigning the fragments Nos. 7 and 8 (T. III, fig. 1 and 2) to that century. The first change happened during the second half of the 9th century (T. IV, fig. 1, 2 and 3). According to that fact, the galbes 1, 2 and 3 (T. I) should be considered from that time, however before the 11th century, when the last change occurred (the gables Nos. 4, 5 and 6, T. II).
The dating of gables in the 9th and 10th centuries may be somewhat speculative (perhaps another order is also possible), but at any rate the fact remains that at least four times considerable interventions took place at the iconostasis in the church at Crkvina near Biskupija.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
159350
URI
Publication date:
23.12.1980.
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