National Museum of History of Moldova
#Exhibit of the Month
From the early days of Christianity, the cross meant not only an instrument of torture, but also a symbol of victory over death, a symbol of salvation. The object is made of silver, having the shape of a Byzantine cross with trapezoidal edges of the arms. The side arms and the one at the bottom seem to be turned inside a vessel (chalice (?)) with the trapezoidal "foot". The arms of the cross and of the "chalice" were ended with a decorative element in the shape of a sphere (drop). The cross has a decoration in relief, executed in the technique of filigree and granulation, consisting of drops, double and triple cords, circles with a drop in the center, and trefoils (?). In the center of the cross, at the intersection of the arms, there is a round mount with a cord-like edge, in which the pomegranate fruit is located. However, the main decorative element is the images of four peacocks turned to the right, with a snake in the beak, arranged on all the arms of the cross. The image of the peacocks is rendered in an artistic way, and their tails are stylized in the shape of a palmette.
The peacock, originated from India, due to its luxurious fan-shaped tail, was considered a symbol of the Sun. In ancient Greece, they were considered the sacred birds of the goddess Hera, and in ancient Rome they were considered the sacred birds of the goddess Juno. In Kievan Rus', the peacock (the Firebird) also symbolized the Sun. In the West, the peacock was considered a snake killer, and the iridescent colors of its tail were attributed to its ability to turn snake venom into solar substance. Since snakes in Iranian symbolism were considered enemies of the sun, it was believed that the peacock killed snakes, in order to create "eyes" from their saliva, iridescent with a bronze-green and gold-blue color on the feathers of its tail. Due to the bright splendor of the male peacock's tail, it has been compared with immortal gods and, therefore, with immortality. Peacocks are known as an emblem of greatness, royal authority, spiritual superiority, ideal creation.
In the early period of Christianity, the peacock was a symbol of love, resurrection, immortality, beauty, eternity of the soul, the all-seeing eye of the Church, and the peacock feather was the emblem of Saint Barbara. The image of peacocks with snakes in their beaks on the cross is not at all accidental; it symbolizes the victory of Christ over evil.
On the back side of the cross, traces of fixing are preserved, probably of a pin (missing), so the object served as a brooch (fibula), which was probably attached to the fabric. The piece is presumably dated back to the 9th-12th centuries.
The object has the following dimensions: height - 125 mm; width - 86 mm; weight - 47 g.
Publications
Journal „Tyragetia"
--Select issue--
Anuarul Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei, nr. I
Anuarul Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei, nr. II
Tyragetia, nr. III
Tyragetia, nr. IV-V
Tyragetia, nr. VI-VII
Tyragetia, nr. VIII
Tyragetia, nr. IX
Tyragetia, nr. X
Tyragetia, nr. XI
Tyragetia, nr. XII
Tyragetia, nr. XIII
Tyragetia, nr. XIV
Tyragetia, nr. XV
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIV [XXIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
ISSN 1857-0240 E-ISSN 2537-6330
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Chișinău, 2013
I. Researches
Elena Izbitser
The Royal Cemetery at Ur and Early Wheels
Любовь Клочко
Types of decorative elements in headwear of the Scythian women
Vasile Iarmulschi
Einige Überlegungen bezüglich der Chronologie und Periodisierung der Poienești-Lucașeuca-Kultur
II. Papers and surveys
Николай К. Анисюткин, Сергей Коваленко, Алиса Ларионова, Александр Очередной, Ксения Степанова, Андрей Чепалыга
Preliminary results of interdisciplinary research of the Early Paleolithic multilayered site of Bairaki in Transnistria in 2011- 2012
Mădălin-Cornel Văleanu, Luminița Bejenaru, Serghei Covalenco, Ion Tentiuc, Vitalie Burlacu, Codrin Lacătușu
Preliminary data on a child’s grave discovered in the Paleolithic site of Cosăuți (Republic of Moldova
Mihaela-Maria Barbu
L’industrie lithique taillée d’habitat énéolithique de Şoimuș 2 - Lângă sat
Михаил Видейко, Джон Чапмен, Биссерка Гейдарская, Наталья Бурдо, Эдуард Овчинников, Галина Пашкевич, Наталья Шевченко
Investigations of a mega-structure at the Trypillian culture settlement near Nebelivka in 2012
Mariana Vasilache
Établissements cucuteniens dans l’espace d’entre Prut et Dniestre (étape Cucuteni A- Tripolie BI). Aspects de l’histoire de la recherche
Наталья Бурдо
Traces of the ritual practice at a large Trypillian culture settlement near Maydanetske
Eugen Mistreanu
A new settlement of the Gumelnița culture from Chioselia Mare village, Cahul District
Николай Руссев, Михаил Фокеев, Игорь Манзура
Barrow of the Copper and Bronze Ages near the Village of Suvorovo, Odessa County
Mariana Sîrbu
Stone objects found in the settlements of Noua-Sabatinovka cultures in the Prut-Dniester area
Станислав Церна, Денис Топал
Two new hoards and several solitary finds of metal items of the Bronze Age - Early Hallstatt periods in the territory of Republic of Moldova
Mariana Sîrbu
The hoard of the late Bronze Age from the village of Antonești (the Cantemir District, Republic of Moldova
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț, Sergiu Matveev
Archaeological research on the site of Saharna Mare (2009-2012) (II)
Natalia Mateevici
Amphora from Chios found in Dubăsari (new object in the collections of NMHM)
Николай Тельнов, Виталий Синика
The Getae burial on the left bank of the Dniester and some problems of the Thracian burial practice
Octavian Munteanu
Les etapes d’édification de la fortification de Horodca Mică
Alexandru Levinschi, Ivan Vlasenco
The Getae burial with cremation at the medieval settlement of Poiana I
Elena Fialko, Yurii Boltryk
Textiles from Scythian burial complexes
Игорь Сапожников
New cartographic materials on the ancient ramparts of Budzhak
Кирилл Мызгин
Roman coins in the forest-steppe on left bank of the Dnieper: general characteristics, distribution and major problems in the study
Aydogdy Kurbanov
The hephthalite numismatics
Владимир Ситник, Валентин Лебедев
Unpublished and rare coins of the Golden Horde from the site of Nizhny Dzhulat (North Caucasus)
Alexandru Levinschi, Eugen Sava
The military camp of Charles XII at Varnița near the Bender Fortress
Ana Boldureanu
Chronicle of monetary findings (VII)
III. Disscusions
Pavel Kosintsev, Pavel Kuznetsov
Comment on “The Earliest Horse Harnessing and Milking”
Natalia Mateevici
About some assertions on the spread of Greek amphorae in the Getae world
IV. Paper and book review
Andrei Nicic
Tudor Soroceanu, Die Kupfer- und Bronzedepots der frühen und mittleren Bronzezeit in Rumänien/ Depozitele de obiecte din cupru și bronz din România. Epoca timpurie și mijlocie a bronzului, 5 Archaeologia Romanica (Hrsg. R. Harhoiu, S. Hansen, C. Gaiu
Livia Sîrbu
Liviu Marta, The late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea - Csengersima, Satu Mare: Editura Muzeului Sătmărean, 2009, 239 pagini, 29 figuri, 8 planșe tipologice, 66 planșe, ISBN 978-973-1843-31-5
#Exhibit of the Month
From the early days of Christianity, the cross meant not only an instrument of torture, but also a symbol of victory over death, a symbol of salvation. The object is made of silver, having the shape of a Byzantine cross with trapezoidal edges of the arms. The side arms and the one at the bottom seem to be turned inside a vessel (chalice (?)) with the trapezoidal "foot". The arms of the cross and of the "chalice" were ended with a decorative element in the shape of a sphere (drop). The cross has a decoration in relief, executed in the technique of filigree and granulation, consisting of drops, double and triple cords, circles with a drop in the center, and trefoils (?). In the center of the cross, at the intersection of the arms, there is a round mount with a cord-like edge, in which the pomegranate fruit is located...
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