Original scientific paper

Man, Snake, and Monkey on the Portal of the Trogir Cathedral

Ivo Babić orcid.org/0000-0002-3760-6247 ; Arhitektonsko-građevinski fakultet

Abstract

By the entrance portal to the Trogir Cathedral, on the left-hand, northern column, the work of the master carver Radovan, a series of figures represent mythological creatures: centaurs, a girl (Europa) on a sea bull, a satyr…The mythological creatures on the columns are primarily in relation to the medieval concepts of sins and the demonic. With the arrival of Christianity, pagan gods were degraded to demons, but still shine from the sky as stars and spread evil influences. In such a context, the pagan themes on the column could be related not merely to the idea of the sinful but also with astrological and astronomical motifs. Considering the polysemic nature of medieval art, we shall attempt to note the connotations related to astronomy and astrology. From the period of late antiquity, the Egyptian god Thoth was identified with Hermes (Mercury). Monkeys and baboons are included among the figures from uranography. The relief depicting the monkey and the one below depicting a man attacking a snake are mutually connected by the snake itself: one figure attacks it (man) and the other holds its tail (monkey). The motifs probably were not chosen merely from the aesthetic aspect, but could have been chosen in response to a given theme: the symbolic connection of Hercules and Hermes – as the monkey. Considering the relations of astrology (astronomy) with alchemy it should be noted that Mercury is the name for a planet, but also for the element mercury (argentum vivum), which is difficult to catch and holds a central place in the alchemical imagination. Some of the mason’s marks on the Trogir Cathedral have astronomical-astrological significance, such as: a circle = sun = gold; a crescent = moon = silver…

Keywords

Trogir; Radovan; man; snake; monkey; Hercules and Hermes

Hrčak ID:

37200

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/37200

Publication date:

23.5.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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