The grapevine plant, now widespread across the globe, traces its origins back to the Upper Cretaceous geological period, when species of Vitis Linn appeared on Earth (Mesozoic era), followed later by Vitis vinifera L., the latter already classified among cultivated agricultural plants. Most researchers link the origin of the cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) to the wild forest species Vitis sylvestris Gmel. Thickets of Vitis sylvestris Gmel. can still sporadically be found in the groves along the Prut and Dniester floodplains.
During the Precucuteni III - Trypillia A period (ca. 4750-4600 BC), the presence of cultivated grape seeds was clearly documented on pottery from the settlement of Ruseştii Noi I, layer I, kiln A, consisting of a seed impression on a ceramic fragment, with the elongated beak characteristic of the domesticated species Vitis vinifera L. Another seed impression of Vitis vinifera L. was recorded at the settlement of Vărvăreuca VIII, identified on the wall of a painted vessel from the Cucuteni B - Trypillia CI stage (3800-3500/3300 BC). In October, on the occasion of the National Wine Day, the National Museum of History of Moldova presents to your attention a unique relic in Southeastern Europe. The exhibit originates from the settlement Brînzeni VIII "Sâiece," belonging to the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture and dated to the Cucuteni AB2 - Trypillia B2 phase (ca. 4050-3800 BC), located in Brînzeni village, Edineț district. The site lies 2 km southwest of the locality, in a triangle formed by the confluence of the Racovăț and Drobiște streams and the local road L36 Bădragii Vechi-Brînzeni. Positioned on land 25-30 meters above the valley, it was discovered in 1966 by archaeologist Nicolaie Chetraru and investigated through excavations between 1978-1980 by Vsevolod Marchevici. The October exhibit is a grapevine leaf impression discovered in 1980. It comes from pit no. 5, partially investigated, with a maximum depth of 155 cm. From the same archaeological complex near dwelling no. 1, several grape seeds were also recovered, as noted in the excavation report. The grapevine leaf impression appears on a coarse clay lump, fired and vitrified due to secondary burning, reddish in color, with an irregular rectangular, flattened shape. The outer surface is uneven and rough. The impression surface is smoothed, with the leaf veins clearly highlighted. Measuring 99 mm in length, 110 mm in width, and 28-31 mm in thickness, the exhibit presents in full splendor an authentic grapevine leaf impression. Some researchers attribute it to the domesticated grapevine Vitis vinifera L., while others, more skeptical, consider it a wild species. Nevertheless, being discovered in a well-documented archaeological context, together with grape seeds near a dwelling, it provides evidence that grapevine was part of Cucuteni community life 6,000 years ago. These findings allow us to affirm that the process of domestication and the creation of table grapes was already underway. The diversity of Cucuteni ceramic forms, as well as the painting on some vessels, undoubtedly suggests their use as containers for various liquids. Accordingly, the emergence of wine among Cucuteni communities can be taken into consideration.
The registers of prophets and apostles from the spire tholobate of the St. George Church of Suceava. Liturgical and historical implications
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
The frescoes of the St. George Metropolitan Church of Suceava, painted inside and outside in 1534, until now have been studied only partly. In the hereby study we aim an iconographic consideration of the paintings within the vaulting system of the nave. Special attention is paid to the registers of prophets and apostles inside the tholobate, which display several important peculiarities. In the superior register are represented 12 Minor Prophets and 3 Major Prophets, to which prophets Elijah and David are added. Surprisingly, the fourth Major Prophet, Jeremiah, is missing, instead of him, even more surprisingly, being represented Naboth the Israelite - the single image of this character within the register of prophets during the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine epoch. In the case of this unexpected insertion, we have attempted to draw several interpretation tracks, connected with the historical re-alities of the epoch. The inferior register also contains an uncommon mixture, including eight figures of apostles and prophets each, as well as a little habitual practice of endowing the apostles with texts written on rotuli. The study draws a repertory of the inscriptions from the rotuli of prophets and apostles, which are analyzed from the perspective of the practices in this field from the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine art, as well as in the context of their liturgical implications. At the same time, the author presented the inscriptions on the rotuli of prophets from the Dodecaorton (The Great Feasts) from the soffit of the oblique arches, trying also to establish a relationship between the prophetical registers of the St. George Church of Suceava and the evolutions of these registers in the Moldavian art from the 15th -16th centuries.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. The St. George Church of Suceava, the paintings of the nave spire. Fig. 2. The St. George Church of Suceava, Christ Pantocrator on the dome of the nave. Fig. 3. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the angelic registers. Fig. 4. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the registers of the prophets and apostles and of the Heavenly Liturgy. Fig. 5. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: David, Micah, Isaiah, Habakkuk. Fig. 6. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: Habakkuk, Nahum, Zephaniah (?), Amos. Fig. 7. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: Elijah, Haggai, Abdias. Fig. 8. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: Abdias, Jonah, Ezekiel, Joel. Fig. 9. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: Ezekiel, Joel, Malachi. Fig. 10. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, the prophets' register: Zechariah, Na- both, Daniel, Hosea. Fig. 11. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, registers of the prophets and apostles: Sts. Peter, John the Baptist and Paul. Fig. 12. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, registers of the prophets and apostles: Sts. Philip, Bartholomew and Andrew. Fig. 13. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, registers of the prophets and apostles: Sts. Paul, Simon, James and Thomas. Fig. 14. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, registers of the prophets and apostles: Samuel, Elisha, Moses, Salomon. Fig. 15. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tholobate of the nave spire, registers of the prophets and apostles: Aaron, unidentified prophet, Gideon. Fig. 16. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tympanum and the intrados of the northeast arch: The Annunciation and the prophets David and Salomon. Fig. 17. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tympanum and the intrados of the southeast arch: The Nativity of Jesus and the prophets Isaiah and Micah. Fig. 18. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tympanum and the intrados of the southwest arch: The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the prophets Moses and Isaiah. Fig. 19. The St. George Church of Suceava, the tympanum and the intrados of the northwest arch: The Baptism of Jesus and the prophets St. John the Baptist and Nahum. Fig. 20. The St. Nicholas Church of Popăuti-Botoșani, the prophets' registers on the arch of the central apse. Fig. 21. The St. George Church of Voronet the prophets' registers on the arch of the central apse. Fig. 22. The St. Nicholas Church of Bălinești, the prophets' register in the central apse.
The grapevine plant, now widespread across the globe, traces its origins back to the Upper Cretaceous geological period, when species of Vitis Linn appeared on Earth (Mesozoic era), followed later by Vitis vinifera L., the latter already classified among cultivated agricultural plants. Most researchers link the origin of the cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) to the wild forest species Vitis sylvestris Gmel...
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
