Simbolika lavljih glava na vratnicama srednjovjekovnih crkava u Njemačkoj

master's thesis

• Title (english): The symbolism of lion's heads on doors of medieval churches in Germany
• Author: Paula Špek
• Mentor: Miljenko Jurković (mentor)
• Committee member: Predrag Marković (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marko Špikić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Miljenko Jurković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of History of Art); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-03-13, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; History of Art

Abstract

Prikazi lava koriste se još od starijeg kamenog doba kao apotropejski čuvari na ulazima, a lavlje se glave kao skulpturalna dekoracija portala koriste, prema dosadašnjim istraživanjima, od 4. stoljeća pr. n. e. U tom su razdoblju dokumentirane na području jugoistočne Europe, a sve do kraja kasne antike pronalazimo ih na grobnicama, hramovima, sarkofazima i ponekim crkvama. Posljednji kasnoantički primjer datira iz 4. stoljeća n. e., a lavlje se glave na sakralnoj arhitekturi ponovno koriste tek na Palatinskoj kapeli u Aachenu. Počeci njihova korištenja u ranom srednjem vijeku povezani su s umjetničkom produkcijom za vrijeme Karolinga, koja se u prvom redu oslanjala na antičku i ranokršćansku tradiciju. Dosad nije u potpunosti razotkriveno jesu li se lavlje glave koristile samo kao način očuvanja te tradicije kao što je propisano u Liber Carolini te je stoga preuzeta samo njihova forma ili je i sama simbolika lava igrala ulogu u njihovom odabiru. U ovom je diplomskom radu na temelju popisa svih pronađenih lavljih glava na vratnicama crkava s područja današnje Njemačke u rasponu od 9. do 12. stoljeća propitana simbolička uloga lavljih glava te se donosi zaključak o značaju istih u kontekstu ikonografskih programa srednjovjekovnih portala. Na temelju stilske analize pojedinih primjera, rad donosi pregled formi lavljih glava, probleme njihove kategorizacije te potencijalne smjerove budućih istraživanja. Prikupljene informacije vizualizirane su s pomoću slikovnih primjera i 5 karata izrađenih za potrebe prikaza. Jedna od navedenih karata integrira sve pronađene primjere s centrima srednjovjekovne vlasti na području današnje Njemačke, dok preostale vizualiziraju pronađene primjere u pojedinim vremenskim periodima.

Abstract (english)

Depictions of lions have been used since the Stone Age as apotropaic guardians at entrances. According to research, lion heads as sculptural decorations of portals have been found since the 4th century BC. In that period, they were documented in the area of Southeast Europe, and until the end of Late Antiquity, we find them on tombs, temples, sarcophagi, and some churches. The last late antique example dates from the 4th century AD. After that, the first lion's heads are used again on the Palatine Chapel in Aachen. The beginnings of their appearance in the early Middle Ages are connected with the development of artistic production during the Carolingian period, which primarily relied on ancient and early Christian traditions. It has not been fully revealed whether the lion's heads were used only as a way of preserving that tradition as prescribed in the Liber Carolina, and therefore only their form was adopted, or whether the symbolism of the lion itself played a role in their selection. In this thesis, the significance of lion heads in the context of the iconographic programs of medieval portals is examined based on the catalog of all found lion heads on the doorposts of churches from the territory of today's Germany from the 9th to the 12th century. The paper questions the symbolic role of lion heads and draws conclusions about their significance. It also provides an overview of the development of the forms of lion heads, discusses the challenges in categorizing them, and suggests potential avenues for future research. The collected information is visualized with the help of pictorial examples and five maps created for display purposes. One of the maps integrates all the found examples with the centers of medieval power in the territory of Germany, while the others visualize the found examples in certain time periods.

• Keywords: lavlje glave; skulptura; portal; romanika; srednji vijek; Njemačka
• Keywords (english): lion heads; sculpture; portals; Romanesque; Middle Ages; Germany
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:690677
• Study programme: Title: Art History; specializations in: Research, Teaching; Course: Research; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra povijesti umjetnosti (magistar/magistra povijesti umjetnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-17 17:10:00