The exhibit represents a fragment from a unique amphora discovered in 1988 in a ceramic kiln from the Chirileni III settlement (Sîngerei district), attributed to the Cucuteni-Tripolie archaeological culture stage CII (5th-4th millennia BC).
The ceramic fragment with painted human and geometric representations constitutes about 50% of the upper part of an amphora, made of clay paste without impurities. It is burned in an oxidizing environment, with a reddish color in the section. The inner surface of the vessel is covered with a pink-whitish color layer, and the smoothed and polished exterior is covered with a yellowish-gray engobe start. The body of the amphora is spheroidal with four pyramidal cakes on the shoulder, and the neck is high frustoconical with a short outwardly turned lip. The dimensions of the bowl: lip diameter - 18 cm; maximum body diameter - 43-45 cm; neck height - 13 cm; height of exposed fragment - 43 cm; the estimated total height of the vessel is 55-60 cm. Thickness at the lip - 6-7 mm, at the neck - 9-11 mm, and at the body - 10-13 mm.
The outer surface of the amphora in a proportion of about 4/5, except for the lower part, is bicolorly decorated with black and brown paint, the brush being used as a tool, which can be felt from the specific application of the lines. Two brushes were most likely used. The ornament is divided into three horizontal registers that surround the vessel dividing the interior into metopes. The decoration is composed of lines arranged vertically, horizontally or obliquely forming geometric compositions of the net type.
The special significance of the amphora resides in the representation in the middle register of the painting of the stylized scene of a female ritual dance. The scene painted on the body of the amphora represents the image of a group made up of 9 female characters assisted by two dogs and 3 snakes. The female images are represented schematically, with the emphasis on long legs, mini-trapezoidal skirts, short stretched bodies, folded dancing hands and pointed heads.
Vessels with painted anthropomorphic representations are very rare, being around 140 images of this kind known so far in the entire area of spread of the Cucuteni-Tripoli culture.
Based on the analysis of the shape of the vessel, the specific decoration and the context of the discovery, it can be admitted that the amphora from Chirileni belongs to the cult of the Mother Woman, the Great Goddess worshiped by the Eneolithic populations.
The preoccupations of Bessarabia’s Zemstva regarding the commercial navigation on Dniester River (1869-1914)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Issues regarding the activity Bessarabia’s Zemstva, although being an important facet of the history of the land between Prut and Dniester, are poorly reflected in the literature. Only some aspects, such as the status of Zemstva, its spheres of competence, budget and social composition are reflected somewhat larger. In the shadow of past remain several problems, which require a broader approach. One of these problems is the commercial navigation on the river Dniester in preoccupations of Bessarabia’s Zemstva.
The analysis of published documents let us ascertain that Bessarabia’s Zemstva succeeded in drawing attention to the Russian imperial authorities on the issue of commercial navigation on the Dniester River. However, it is clear that in practical plan things didn’t stay so well as in the plan of intent. Obviously, on the other hand, that decentralization of power led only to a bureaucratization of the administrative machinery. From this point of view, the problems of commercial navigation on the river Dniester were discussed and researched but not solved.
Andrei Emilciuc
Entrepreneurial transhumance in Bessarabia (1812-1853)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The legal status of merchants without residence in the cities of Bessarabia and in Odessa (1812-1861)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Western European dictionaries and encyclopedias from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Representatives of Bessarabia at commodity exhibitions in the Russian Empire and in Western Europe (1829-1869)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The role of grain exports in external commerce of Bessarabia (1812-1830)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The exhibit represents a fragment from a unique amphora discovered in 1988 in a ceramic kiln from the Chirileni III settlement (Sîngerei district), attributed to the Cucuteni-Tripolie archaeological culture stage CII (5th-4th millennia BC)...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
