Original scientific paper
BAPTISMAL FONT OF CROATS. PALAEOGRAPHIC AND EPITAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE INSCRIPTION FROM THE BAPTISTERY OF PRINCE VIŠESLAV
Mirjana MATIJEVIĆ SOKOL
Abstract
In several diverse chapters of this article the main issues are questions which derive from obscure circumstances of discovery of baptistery with the name of prince Višeslav. The baptistery, found in the middle of the nineteenth century, scientist dated differently. Based
on its palaeographic and stylistic characteristics, as well as its purpose, it was placed at the beginning of ninth century, at the end of the same century, as well as, in the eleventh century. In this article, on the basis of palaeographic and epitaphic analysis, as well as
valorisation of the text and its content, the author dates the baptistery at the beginning of ninth century. This dating is supported by the fact that the abbreviations, which had been used, were common in the Christian epigraphy from the beginning of ninth century. In those epigraphic records there is no trace of infl uence of minuscule scripture, which appearedduring the ninth century. Moreover, tracing historical records and archaeological investigations,
which are presented in the literature, the author places the baptistery within the cathedral complex of Nin. Author also critically examines new opinions – poorly proved - which suggest that the baptistery with the name of prince Višeslav originates from Venice and did not leave its place until the twentieth century.
Keywords
Baptistery; prince Višeslav; epigraphy; palaeography; abbreviations; Latin; Middle Ages
Hrčak ID:
20272
URI
Publication date:
25.6.2007.
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