HEALTH CULTURE ELEMENTS IN THE FRESCOES IN THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH OF HRASTOVUE, SLOVENIA

Abstract

This paper represents some elements of medicine in the frescoes painted in 1.490 AD by Ivan of Kastav in the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje, Slovenian Istria. Part one deal with some traditional patron saints (Christopher, Cosmas and Damian, Apollonia, Agatha, Rocco and Sebastian). In the series of paintings representing the 'Creation ofthe World'and the'Life ofAdam and Eve', this country artist has incorporated numerous details from everyday medieval life, such as farm work, or breast-feeding of the twins Cain and Abel. In part three, the fresco 'The Dance of Death' is dealt with in detail. Further to primarily moral and social elements, the artist points to his own interesting anatomic imaginations in presenting the human skeletons, which reflect not only his, but also the general ignorance of the human anatomy at that time.