Dioklecijanov “carski dvor” u Duklji

The aim of the paper is the re-examination of the “forum” of late antique Doclea (Dioclea), the interpretation of which has never been finished, although so information been collated during the past 131 years. Through re-examination of the complex with its distinctive features this paper offers answers on some of the still unresolved issues. A primary is- sue was to resolve who was responsible for its arrangement. After an onomastic analysis only one conclusion asserted itself – the “forum complex” could only have been erected by the Emperor Diocletian, who was obviously responsible for the rearrangement of the whole town of Doclea (Dioclea), his hometown. Further analysis of the concept, architec- tural arrangement and vocabulary used in the “forum” and adjoining “basilica” only corroborate that it was precisely Diocletian and his “architectural school”. Without a doubt, the Doclean (Dioclean) “forum complex” was innovative and original in many ways, along with its importance as an “imperial forum”, the “Diocletian’s imperial court”, will re- main in the collective memory of the Montenegrins for centuries to come. The paper also represents an effort to clarify Diocletian’s background and the “modus operandi” of his “architectural school” whose presence in Doclea (Dioclea) has already been noticed.Cilj je rada preispitivanje kasnoantičkog “foruma” u Duklji, čija interpretacija, unatoč mnoštvu podataka prikupljenih tijekom proteklih 131 godinu, nikada nije dogotovljena. Rad nudi odgovore na pojedina neriješena pitanja proizašle upravo iz njegova preispitivanja. Prvenstveno pitanje bilo je vezano za naručitelja te gradnje. Po onomastičkoj analizi zaključak se sam nametnuo – “forumski sklop” mogao je dati podići isključivo sam car Dioklecijan, koji je, po svemu sudeći, bio zaslužan za uređenje i pregradnju svojega rodnoga grada. Analiza koncepta, specifičnog arhitektonskog rješenja i upotrijebljenog vokabulara samo je potvrdila prethodni zaključak. “Forumski kompleks” je nesumnjivo bio inovativan i originalan, a sjećanje na njega kao na “carski forum”, “Dioklecijanov carski dvor”, zadržao se u kolektivnom pamćenju Crnogoraca kroz dugi slijed stoljeća. Rad ujedno predstavlja nastojanje da se razjasni Dioklecijanovo podrijetlo i “modus operandi” njegove “arhitektonske škole” čija je prisutnost u Duklji već jasno zamijećena

Castellum u Mogorjelu – doprinos jednoj dugotrajnoj raspravi

The late antique complex in Mogorjelo can be categorized as one of the prime Dalmatian late antique monuments. It has attracted considerable attention over the past hundred years and more, and its ground plan can be found in a number of reviews of late antique architecture in Dalmatia, as well as in the wider region. Still, although it has been studied for such a long time, there are many unanswered questions regarding this “puzzling” building complex. When a monument has such a long history of research, it is bound to become a subject of divergent and even conflicting opinions. The aim of this paper is to present the complex as objectively as possible, thus rectifying the conceptions about its form, function, and purpose in a wider organizational framework established in the province by Emperor Diocletian. The intention is not to explain each detail of the complex, but to offer a new and more comprehensive insight into the nature of the castellum itself, and to provide the scholars of late antique architecture with factography, as complete as possible, about the complex and its surroundings.Kasnoantički sklop u Mogorjelu jedan je od prvorazrednih kasnoantičkih spomenika s područja rimske Dalmacije. Tijekom proteklih nešto više od stotinu godina istraživači su mu posvetili znatnu pozornost i njegov se tlocrt nalazi u mnogim pregledima kasnoantičke arhitekture u Dalmaciji, kao i na širem području. Ipak, iako je kompleks izučavan tijekom dužeg razdoblja, preostalo je mnogo neriješenih pitanja u vezi s ovim „zagonetnim” sklopom. Kada je neki spomenik predmet tako dugotrajnog izučavanja, to nužno urađa različitim, čak i suprotstavljenim mišljenima. Cilj je ovog rada predstaviti sklop u što objektivnijem svjetlu te tako rektificirati predodžbe o njegovu izvornom izgledu, funkciji i svrsi koju je imao unutar šireg organizacijskog okvira provincije kakav je zacrtao car Dioklecijan. Cilj nije objasniti svaki pojedini detalj sklopa, već pružiti nov i sveobuhvatniji uvid u samu bit ovog kaštela, te predstaviti istraživačima kasnoantičke izvangradske arhitekture što cjelovitiju i faktografski ispravnu sliku sklopa i okoline u kojoj je funkcionirao

Liturgical Vestments in the Eleventh and Twelfth Century Mural Paintings of Dubrovnik and Elaphiti Islands – a Contribution to the Study of “Adrio-Byzantinism” on the Eastern Adriatic

The paper deals with liturgical vestments represented on fragmentarily preserved figures on the walls of the so-called Byzantine basilica found in the archaeological excavations under Dubrovnik Cathedral, and the saints depicted in two churches on the Elaphiti Islands in Dubrovnik aquatorium: St John’s in Šilovo Selo on Šipan and St Nicholas’ on Koločep. An iconographic analysis shows that the vestments in question belong to the Eastern type of liturgical dress, and the elaboration on their origin, meaning and development provides some additional information for interpretation and dating of the paintings. Given conclusions are then observed in specific historical context of eleventh and twelfth century Dubrovnik, its traditions, dynamic relations with Byzantium and Rome, but also in the context of already recognized cultural contacts with the southern regions of the Apennine peninsula. Finally it is pointed to some further directions for re-addressing the problem of “Adrio-Byzantinism” in eleventh and twelfth century art and architecture of southern Dalmatia, but also to the need for examining the validity of the concept, its possible aspects, meanings and manifestations, in a wider socio-cultural context; which, after all, defines the underlying ideas of the visual imagery employed

Od pogrešno protumačenog crteža iz 16. stoljeća do prvorazrednog svjedočanstva Konstantinova Novoga Rima

Through the past decades, there have been many attempts to reconstruct Constantine the Great’s Forum in Constantinople – his Nea Roma, and to decipher its intended symbolical meaning. Most of these attempts were fruitful to some extent, but the entire message that the Emperor wanted to convey through the specific arrangement of the Forum has never been fully and clearly explained. Moreover, the Middle and Late Byzantine literary sources have additionally obscured the original message, so each piece of evidence about Constantine’s original concept of the Forum is extremely valuable. This paper should thus be a contribution to the understanding of its original symbolism, based on a piece of evidence that has often been either circumvented or ignored by the researchers: the unique drawing of the pedestal of Constantine’s porphyry column, made by Danish artist Melchior Lorichs (1526/27 – after 1583). The pedestal was decorated with an elaborate relief, whose proper interpretation becomes an important clue for deciphering Constantine’s imperial agenda. So, the paper offers a new interpretation of the relief, and establishes its importance in the symbolical framework of the Forum.Protekla desetljeća svjedočila su mnogim pokušajima rekonstrukcije i odgonetanju simbolike Konstantinova konstantinopolskog foruma – središnjeg trga njegova Novoga Rima. Mnogi su od njih polučili određene rezultate, no cjelokupna poruka koju je car želio prenijeti nikada nije do kraja i jasno protumačena. Štoviše, pisani izvori srednjo- i kasno- bizantskog razdoblja učinili su izvornu poruku dodatno nejasnom, pa je svako svjedočanstvo o Konstantinovoj izvornoj ideji iznimno značajno. Cilj je ovog rada doprinijeti razumijevanju izvorne poruke, kroz analizu jednog vrlo značajnog svjedočanstva, koje se do sada ili zaobilazilo, ili zanemarivalo: jedinstveni crtež postamenta Konstantinova stupa koji je načinio danski umjetnik Melchior Lorichs (1526./27. – nakon 1583.). Naime, postament je bio ukrašen prilično razrađenim reljefom čije je ispravno tumačenje iznimno važno za razumijevanje Konstantinove carske agende. Stoga se u radu donosi nova interpretacija reljefa te ga se kontekstualizira unutar simboličkog okvira prema kojem je forum bio strukturiran

Balnea metallicorum of ancient Domavia

The bathing complex in Domavia (near modern Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), drew our attention as one of the most interesting and yet still unexplored bathing complexes at the territory of the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia. It was discovered more than a hundred years ago by Ljudevit Pogatschnig during the excavation of the site called Gradina, unearthed to a significant extent, and rather well documented by Vaclav Radimský in his reports from 1892 and 1894. Unfortunately, although this monumental and lavishly decorated bathing complex differs in many respects from the majority of ancient baths around the Roman world, and is a superb testament to the social conditions, wealth and overall culture of Domavia, an official mining centre from the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, its remains (except for the mosaics) never spurred further academic interest. This paper deals with the unusual arrangement and structure of the complex, its way of functioning, its rich decoration and quite substantial epigraphic material. All these contribute not only to the better understanding of life in ancient Domavia and northern part of the Roman province of Dalmatia, but also to the general knowledge and understanding of Roman baths, their types and distinctive features. For their unique structure and character, we labelled Domavia baths – balnea metallicorum, arguing that they were designed for specific purposes and specific needs of their customers. We are also convinced that they were not an isolated example of this kind of baths at the territory of the Roman province

Prikazi gradova na Peutingerovoj karti i razvoj urbanog pejzaža na području Hrvatske između antike i srednjega vijeka

Disertacija obranjena 30. travnja 2010. na Filozofskom fakultetu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu

Iconographic interpretation the cult of Kabiri in Archeological museum of Split

Rad je pokušaj interpretacije prikaza na jednom nedovršenom kasnoantičkom sarkofagu iz Arheološkog muzeja u Splitu. Cilj je rada definirati ikonografiju kulta kabira i valorizirati prikaz na splitskome sarkofagu kao prvi dosada pouzdano identificirani prikaz mističnih božanstava — demona u Hrvatskoj. U radu se ovaj pojedinačni predmet sa svojim prikazima pokušava maksimalno kontekstualizirati prema povijesno-mitološkoj osnovi na kojoj je nastao.The article is an attempt of interpretation of two reliefs on a late antique sarcophagus exhibited in The Archaelogical museum in Split. Through an iconographical analysis and examination of the proposed mythological and historical background, the author comes to conclusion that sarcophagus carries an extremely rare image of two Kabiri, complemented, possibly, by an image of Atis depicted on the opposite side of the sarcophagus. Identification of such an iconography is based on a certified iconography of Kabiri cult, which can be found on late antique coins all over the Roman empire, as well as in the mythological background of the same cult. Such an identification, if it is correct, would be unique in the context of Croatian art history, as well as in the whole context of exploration of this mysterious cult

Heating System in the Ancient World: the Example of the Southwestern Balneum in Diocletian's Palace in Split

Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Mauritius, 11-13 July, 2011.Searching for historical backgrounds of today’s technological achievements, the authors examined a case of heat transfer in the Roman period. This paper reports on an interdisciplinary investigation of the properties of the heating system of the private baths in the imperial palace of the roman emperor Diocletian (end of 3rd - beginning of the 4th C. AD) in Split (Croatia). The analysis of temperature distribution in those baths helped archaeologists to determine the functions of each of the rooms in the premises. On the other hand, thermodynamic calculation was conducted in order to get an insight in heating efficiency and temperature distribution in the most preserved part of the thermae.mp201

Kaštelina – A Villa of the Baebius family

Rad je osvrt na rezultate dosadašnjih istraživanja na poluotoku Kaštelina na otoku Rabu. Poslije dovršenih četiriju ar- heoloških kampanja, rad je prvi pokušaj kontekstualizacije prikupljenih podataka, a koji se odnose u najvećemu dijelu na antičku fazu organizacije života na poluotoku. Istraživanja su pokazala da se na vrhu poluotoka nalazila antička vila čije je dvije faze izgradnje moguće datirati u 1. stoljeće n. e., pa čak i povezati s nadgrobnim spomenikom obitelji Bebija pronađenim nedaleko vile.This paper refers to the results of the previously conducted archaeological excavations on the Kaštelina peninsula on the island of Rab. After the completion of four archaeological campaigns, the authors have been able to contextualize the collected data on the Roman villa maritima situated on the peninsula’s promontory, which show that the villa went through two phases of construction during the 1st century AD and may be associated with a tombstone of the local Baebius family found nearby

»Velike salonitanske terme« – od antičke kuće do biskupskih kupelji

U radu se donosi novo viđenje i novo tumačenje građevnih faza i funkcije tzv. Velikih salonitanskih termi. Antička kuća koja je prethodila izgradnji kupelji, odnosno u čije su strukture kupelji bile instalirane, predstavlja se u posve novom urbanističkom kontekstu pravilno organizirane gradske četvrti čije je obrise moguće iščitati sravnjivanjem Gerberovih i Dyggveovih arheoloških nalaza i dokumentacije. Za adaptaciju kuće u kupelji, kao i naknadne pregradnje i dogradnje kupališnoga sklopa predlaže se drugačija kronologija od one koja je dana u dosadašnjim istraživanjima te kasnije datacije pojedinih faza, a svaku se intervenciju nastoji objasniti u kontekstu kupališnih običaja antičkoga i kasnoantičkoga doba te poznatoga korpusa rimske kupališne arhitekture. Postanak ovih salonitanskih kupelji tumači se i u kontekstu uređenja vodovodnog sustava u sjeverozapadnome dijelu Urbs Orientalis koji je omogućio izgradnju brojnih kupališnih objekata, a njihova se funkcija u konačnici razmatra i u kontekstu razvoja i rasta episkopalnoga sklopa koji je u određenom trenutku morao prerasti u svojevrsnu “episkopalnu četvrt”. Iznosi se teza da se episkopalni sklop tijekom 6. stoljeća proširio istočno od tzv. Petrove ulice, a da su ove salonitanske kupelji integrirane u novi biskupski kompleks te povezane s pretpostavljenom novom zgradom episkopija, bivajući tako pretvorene u biskupski balneum