The Iconographic Motif of a Griffin and a Hare on the So-called Saracenic-Sicilian Casket from the Wawel Cathedral Treasury in Cracow
Journal Title: Studia Ceranea. Journal of the Waldemar Ceran Research Centre for the History and Culture of the Mediterranean Area and South-East Europe - Year 2015, Vol 5, Issue
Abstract
The article examines a kind of community of aesthetic tastes that was connecting Arab and Byzantine courtly culture. This community concerned the secular and luxurious works of art. The silver casket, called a Saracenic-Sicilian, from the Wawel Cathedral Treasury in Cracow will serve as the starting point to gain a true appreciation of the complex artistic relationship between the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world in the Middle Ages. It appears highly probable that the casket was created in the twelfth century. It was published at once after the discovery (8th March 1881) and since then, researchers argue about the place of origin of the box. Some suggest that the casket could be a product of Arabic or Persian art, while others propose either Byzantine or Sicilian workshops. What is more, even an thorough stylistic and iconographic analysis does not allow for an unambiguous resolution of the problem of provenance of the Wawel box. Lack of a resolution suggests that this piece of art was directed to a member of the cosmopolitan elite of – Arabic or Byzantine – court, which took delight in sophisticated and expensive luxury items. It is worth noting that in this case, matter of religion did not play a crucial role. For this reason, the depicted scenes and decorative details have an universal character. In order to present this specific synthesis of Arabic and Byzantine secular art, the motifs of a griffin and a hare, decorating the casket will be considered.
Authors and Affiliations
Magdalena Garnczarska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP443310
- DOI 10.18778/2084-140X.05.04
- Views 20
- Downloads 0
Taxes in the Mediterranean. Ancient Roman Perspective. Preface
Preface.
Словник Исторической Палеи по списку синодального собрания № 591 второй половины ХV века – глоттометрическая характеристика
Towards a glottometric analysis of the vocabulary of the Historical Palaea. The present study is an attempt to apply statistical methods in investigating the vocabulary of Old Bulgarian on the basis of lexical material...
On Medieval Storytelling. The Story of Melchizedek in Certain Slavonic Texts (Palaea Historica and the Apocryphal Cycle of Abraham)
The article analyses the story of the prophet-king Melchizedek (mentioned in Gen 14,17–20, Ps 110,4 and three passages in Heb: 5,6–10, 6,20, 7,1–17), recorded in Slavonic historical texts: the first and second translatio...
Book Reviews: Testimonia najdawniejszych dziejów Słowian [Testimonia of the Most Ancient History of Slavs]. Seria grecka. Zeszyt 6: Pisarze wieku XI [Writers of the 11th Century], trans. et ed. Anna Kotłowska, coll. Alicja Brzóstkowska, Slawistyczny Ośrodek Wydawniczy, Warszawa 2013, p. 370 [= Prace Slawistyczne, 137].
Book Review.
Prisoners of War in Early Medieval Bulgaria (Preliminary Remarks)
The work is concentrated on the problem of war prisoners in the chronological period of the existance of the so-called First Bulgarian state. The analysis is based predominantly on various Byzantine and selected Latin...