Maps of Power

Maksimović 1971

Properties

ID 120256
System Class Bibliography
Bibliography Book
Case Study Beyond East and West: Sacred Landscapes Duklja and Raška

Description

Jovanka Maksimović, Srpska srednjovekovna skulptura (Novi Sad 1971).

Relations

Artifacts (11)
Name Class Description
Altar (Parts), Ston, Church of the Virgin of Lužina Artifact The inscription on the fragment of the altar screen, found near the church, reads "...ORE SCE... as (IN HON)ORE SANCTAE (MARIAE?)" and is dated probably to the beginning of the 9th century, while some scholars are discussing another origin from the church of the beginning of the 12th century. It is decorated with floral and geometric design with twelve three-way interlaced circles, inside which there are eight-leaf rosettes. The empty space is filled with seven-leaf palmettes. Stylistically it has been connected to pre-Romanesque style. Parts of the lintel as well as liturgical furniture are also preserved.
Ciborium from Kotor Artifact The original ciborium from the Church of St. Tryphon in Kotor dates back probably to the beginning of the 9th century. It was found in secondary use above the door leading to the sacristy of the cathedral. The ciborium is an excellent example of pre-Romanesque sculpture with characteristic interlacing and zoomorphic figures on its arcade, along with an inscription on three sides (the fourth side is considered to be the one built above one of the doors in the building of the neighbouring diocese and it doesn't contain any inscription). We have to emphasise that scholars disagree regarding the fragments of inscriptions, whether or not they belong to the same ciborium. Based on the inscription, some scholars dated this ciborium between 1169 and 1178 (also, L. Mirković believes that the inscription was engraved in the 11th century on a decorated plate of the 9th century). It was probably in the cathedral until the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century, when it was dismantled due to a reconstruction of the cathedral. Its parts were then built into the walls of the cathedral itself and other surrounding buildings. Also, various solutions of reading and interpretation have been proposed for the Saints mentioned in the inscription on the slab of the ciborium. The new ciborium of the Church of St. Tryphon in Kotor dates around 1362.
Ciborium from Ulcinj Artifact The ciborium from Ulcinj is one of the oldest (partially) preserved ciboriums. It dates back to the beginning of the 9th century. This ciborium stands out for its relief decoration with figural motifs made in the pre-Romanesque style. On the right is an image of a lion devouring a smaller animal, which on its part devours a bird, referring to the invocation of salvation (Psalm 21:22), and on the left is another lion represented above a palm tree. There is also a partially preserved inscription engraved along the frame of the ciborium. The frontal arcade of the ciborium was found in Ulcinj in 1937. The exact location of the find remains unknown. Then, it was transferred to the National Museum in Belgrade. Since then, it has been part of the permanent exhibition of medieval heritage. In 2005, another fragment belonging to the same structure was identified, allowing scholars to conclude that the ciborium had a rectangular structure and was probably positioned above the altar of the church. Apart from the names of the donors inscribed on the ciborium, namely of Gusma and her husband, the inscription mentions two Byzantine Emperors Leo and Constantine, identified as Leo V (reigned 813-820) and his son Constantine (reigned as co-emperor 813-820). This made it possible to date the ciborium and the church to the years 813-820.
Kuti, Church of St. Thomas, Parapet Plate Artifact In the Church of St. Thomas in Kuti were representative carved stone altar parapets in former times, of which the entire parapet plate with the scene of Adoration of the Cross is the only one preserved. It is probably from the last third of the 11th century. The developed figural decoration is distinguished by two stylistic peculiarities - the pre-Romanesque motif of the cross filled with braids woven with a three-part strip, and on the other hand, the innovative shaping of figures and the abandonment of flatness. Today it is kept in the Regional Museum of Herceg Novi..
Monastery of Banjska, Sculpture of a Bird Artifact It cannot be determined with certainty, where the fragmentarily preserved part of the architectural sculptural decoration with the representation of a bird was located within the Church of St. Stephen in the Monastery of Banjska. The shape of the marble fragment suggests the possibility that it was part of an archivolt. Like the rest of the decoration, it is dated around 1315. Today it is kept in the National Museum in Belgrade (no. 26_2180).
Monastery of Banjska, Sculpture of the Virgin with Christ (the "Sokolica Virgin") Artifact The sculpture of the Virgin with Christ (called "Sokolica Virgin") comes from the Church of St. Stephen in the Monastery of Banjska near Zvečan. The church was built by the Serbian King Stefan Uroš II Milutin (reigned 1282-1321) between 1312 and 1316, when this marble sculpture was made in high relief. Initially, it was painted. The sculpture was placed in the lunette of the inner portal of the Church of St. Stephen, which was built according to the Church of the Virgin in the Monastery of Studenica. The "Sokolica Virgin" bears the characteristics of Romanesque sculptures that rarely adorned monuments in the region of Raška. The sculpture of the Virgin with Christ was found in 1920 in the church of the nearby Monastery of Sokolica, which is why it is called the "Sokolica Virgin". It is still kept in the Monastery of Sokolica.
Rogačići, Archivolt Artifact The preserved archivolt of the ciborium in Rogačići was made in the pre-Romanesque style. Although dated to the 11th century (in earlier literature even dated to the 12th century), the possibility that it was created in an earlier time cannot be ruled out. Fragments of the archivolt were found during the excavation of the six-leafed church in Rogačići, and today they are kept in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.
Ston, Church of Saint Archangel Michael, Relief Decoration Artifact In the Church of Saint Archangel Michael in Ston several original pieces of architectural decoration and church furnishing, dated to the 11th century, have been preserved. All openings of the Early Medieval building, that have been preserved, indicate the pre-Romanesque bas-relief style of their frames and the Early Medieval frescoes in the interior, which harmonise the composition with the arrangement of the windows. The relief decoration was made in the pre-Romanesque style (some of the researchers like Jurković and Tomas recognise two chronological layers of the sculpture). The lintel, used in a secondary function as a tombstone, is decorated with three crosses, connected to each other by a two-bar braid. The upper field has an inscription, which has been interpreted and dated differently in historiography. B. Gabričević recognised the verse in the inscription as follows: (ARCHANGELUS) MICHAELUS FORTITER SUPER SECO PACIFICOQUE OMNES ROMANOS Among the fragments of liturgical furniture the remains of the altar screen and ciborium can be recognised.
Studenica, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Altar Trifora Artifact The trifora of the altar apse of the Church of the Holy Mother of God in the Monastery of Studenica is made of marble and dated around 1190. Rich plastic decoration is found in the lunette, window frame and window sill in the form of relief, which the console supports in the form of two almost free-standing figures/statues (actually made in high relief). The altar trifora of the katholikon of Studenica is characterised by stylistic similarities with monuments of Italian Romanesque sculpture. It is interesting to note that the trifora from the Monastery of Dečani is made entirely like the trifora from this Monastery.
Studenica, Church of the Holy Mother of God, Consoles Artifact The consoles of the arcade frieze of the Southern façade of the katholikon of Studenica were made from marble around 1190, at the time of the erection of the Church of the Holy Mother of God. The consoles are decorated with motifs of human and animal heads. The sculpture in Studenica has models in Romanesque art.
Sušćepan, Church of St. Stephen, Parapet Plates Artifact In the Church of St. Stephen in Sušćepan two parapet plates, decorated in the pre-Romanesque style, were found. Each is divided into two square surfaces, framed by a border covered by braids of three-part strips. A griffin is represented on the upper surface of both plates, while a stylised floral ornament is placed below. These marble slabs date back to the 11th century and were then part of the iconostasis. Today, younger buildings were built (adjacent) to the wall in the same place.
Places (4)
Name Class Begin End Description
Kuti, Church of St. Thomas Place The Church of St. Thomas in Kuti near Herceg Novi was probably built in the last quarter of the 11th century. It is a single nave edifice with a semicircular apse in the East as well as with semicircular vaults and a dome, indicating a strong Byzantine influence. Fragments of fresco paintings and stone furnishings have been found. A remaining stone altar screen with two parapets indicates a new, Romanesque style. On the other hand, the fresco decoration (dated to the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century) with heads of Saints points to Byzantine artists, having similarities with the frescoes in the chapel and crypt of the katholikon of the Monastery of Hosios Loukas in Phokis and the Church of St. Nicholas on the island of Koločep. The Church of St. Thomas is in ruins with walls preserved up to a maximum height of ca. 2,5 m.
Prevlaka, Monastery and Church of St. Archangel Michael Place The Church of St. Archangel Michael, also known by the name "Tumba sancti Archangeli", is situated on the small island of Prevlaka in the Bay of Tivat. There are three layers of edifices on this site. The first church was built on the basis of a 6th century basilica (with graves found as well), which became a three nave basilica by the end of the 6th century. A Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Archangel Michael was probably built in the 9th century. It was a three nave basilica with a semicircular apse in the center and two rectangular little apses on the sides (which are still being debated in art history, since no similar examples have been found), a narthex and a bell tower on the South-East part of the edifice. A large number of fragments of architectural sculpture of the pre-Romanesque style has been preserved, and some of its pillars were moved to the Church of St. Tryphon in Kotor in 1166. In the 12th century this place was ruined and deserted. This abbey, according to the oldest preserved document in Kotor from 1124, was meant to be the Cathedral of Kotor. At the beginning of the 13th century (1220s) the bishopric of Zeta was founded at this very place by Saint Sava (ca. 1175-1236). Therefore, the second church was built on the remains of an abandoned and demolished Benedictine monastery. It had a dome and strong buttresses and a parraklesion was added on the North side. Numerous graves have also been found. The monastery was abandoned at the end of the 14th century and destroyed in the middle of the 15th century, following the killing of 70 monks. In the immediate vicinity of the ruins of this church, i.e. to the East of it, a single nave edifice, which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, was built in 1833 with bells above the Western entrance.
Stari Bar, Church of St. George (St. Theodore) Place The Church of St. George is situated in the old town of Bar (Stari Bar) on an elevation called Londža. Beneath the remains of the Romanesque Church of St. George (dated to the 12th century) the remains of an older church, dedicated to St. Theodore, were discovered (probably built in the 5th or 6th century). When the Church of St. Theodore was erected in Stari Bar, a mosaic floor from the triconchos edifice in Novi Bar, which had already been in ruins at that time, was transferred. The older church of St. Theodore was probably ruined in a fire, and a new edifice honoring St. George was erected by Archbishop George of Bar (as evidenced by a tombstone) in the 12th century, thus becoming the see of the Archbishopric of Bar. Both churches were three nave basilicas. The Church of St. George had three apses. Remains of vaults indicate gothic elements. Fragments of stone furnishing and decoration belonging to the altar screen have been found. In 1125, King Grubeša of Zeta (reigned ca. 1118- ca. 1125) was buried in the church. High dignitaries of the Archbishopric of Bar were also buried there, e.g. Bishop Jovan from the time of Prince Vladimir and the Archbishops George, Peter and Sergius, who lived in the period from the 11th to the 12th centuries. The church was turned into a mosque in the 16th century, and in 1881 the church was completely destroyed by a gunpowder explosion or, as some indicate, by lightning (since the church served as an ammunition depot).
Ston, Church of St. Archangel Michael Place The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Ston was probably erected by Prince Stefan Vojislav, the archont of the Serbs and a Terbounian Serb (reigned ca. 1037-1050), in the first half of the 11th century. The church is situated on top of the hill named Gradac and it might have served as a palace church. Its a rectangular, single-nave building, which is divided with composite pilasters into three bays (the middle one has a blind dome, while Eastern and Western have groin vaults) and a bell-tower situated on its Western side. The altar apse is semicircular inside and rectangular on the outside. The exterior is decorated with lesenes and niches, while door frames and stone window have low-relief decoration. Fresco decoration has been severely damaged but we can still recognize its iconographical programme. Certainly the most significant is the fresco decoration of the ktetor who is holding a model of the church and along with Latin inscriptions we can conclude that the paintings are of Western pre-Romanesque and Byzantine influence finished probably around 1050 (for sure until 1081).