The paper summarises the available 9th–10th century material evidence of Christianity from the te... more The paper summarises the available 9th–10th century material evidence of Christianity from the territory of present-day Slovakia. Apart from some isolated older objects, the finds were mostly obtained from verified archaeological situations. The oldest early medieval Christian relics are represented by isolated decorative metal fittings from late Avar graves and by a bronze cross in a hoard from Dolné Orešany, dating from the end of the 8th century. The most significant assemblage from the Great Moravian period comprises devotional objects and liturgical instruments. Within this group fall various crosses made of lead, bronze and gold, and with some reservation also an old-fashioned ivory pyx, which according to several interpretations might have been used for liturgical purposes in the Great Moravian environment. The most significant assemblage was discovered in the power centre at Bojná. The six gilt plaques of 13–15 cm in diameter were originally mounted on a wooden base – portable altar, reliquary or procession cross. The winged figures in relief represent Christ and the angels. Two of these plaques bear short inscriptions in Latin script. According to a new hypothesis, one of the texts was additionally engraved in the Glagolitic alphabet. Stylistically seen, the plaques count among the sphere of Carolingian art at the turn between the 8th and 9th centuries; other researchers suppose that they were made in local environment under Byzantine influence. From Bojná comes one entire specimen and fragments of two other bronze bells of the Canino type, and a gilt fitting from a codex. The authors collected a considerable amount of profane objects bearing the cross as a Christian symbol, which was applied, probably as a protective element, to ornaments, belt fittings, horse harness and spurs. Most of these artefacts were found in the hill fort at Bojná and some of them were even manufactured there. Based on these objects as well as on the above bells and plaques we suppose here the presence of a Christian mission. This power centre suffered violent decline at the beginning of the 10th century when the above-mentioned objects were buried in ground. Less convincing is the symbolical interpretation of crosses at bottoms of ceramic vessels – the so-called potter’s marks. The archaeological evidence collected completes the picture of Christianity on the territory of present-day Slovakia in the Great Moravian period.
The paper summarises the available 9th–10th century material evidence of Christianity from the te... more The paper summarises the available 9th–10th century material evidence of Christianity from the territory of present-day Slovakia. Apart from some isolated older objects, the finds were mostly obtained from verified archaeological situations. The oldest early medieval Christian relics are represented by isolated decorative metal fittings from late Avar graves and by a bronze cross in a hoard from Dolné Orešany, dating from the end of the 8th century. The most significant assemblage from the Great Moravian period comprises devotional objects and liturgical instruments. Within this group fall various crosses made of lead, bronze and gold, and with some reservation also an old-fashioned ivory pyx, which according to several interpretations might have been used for liturgical purposes in the Great Moravian environment. The most significant assemblage was discovered in the power centre at Bojná. The six gilt plaques of 13–15 cm in diameter were originally mounted on a wooden base – portable altar, reliquary or procession cross. The winged figures in relief represent Christ and the angels. Two of these plaques bear short inscriptions in Latin script. According to a new hypothesis, one of the texts was additionally engraved in the Glagolitic alphabet. Stylistically seen, the plaques count among the sphere of Carolingian art at the turn between the 8th and 9th centuries; other researchers suppose that they were made in local environment under Byzantine influence. From Bojná comes one entire specimen and fragments of two other bronze bells of the Canino type, and a gilt fitting from a codex. The authors collected a considerable amount of profane objects bearing the cross as a Christian symbol, which was applied, probably as a protective element, to ornaments, belt fittings, horse harness and spurs. Most of these artefacts were found in the hill fort at Bojná and some of them were even manufactured there. Based on these objects as well as on the above bells and plaques we suppose here the presence of a Christian mission. This power centre suffered violent decline at the beginning of the 10th century when the above-mentioned objects were buried in ground. Less convincing is the symbolical interpretation of crosses at bottoms of ceramic vessels – the so-called potter’s marks. The archaeological evidence collected completes the picture of Christianity on the territory of present-day Slovakia in the Great Moravian period.
Uploads
Papers by Petr Sommer