Arkhaia Anatolika (Feb 2021)
Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi, Kuzey Ek Yapısı Tuğla Süslemeleri: Rozet Motifi ya da Yenilmez Güneş “Sol Invictus” / St. Nicholas Church, Brick Decorations of Northern Annex: Rosette Motif or Invincible Sun "Sol Invictus”
Abstract
In this article, brick rosettes on the façade of northern and north-eastern annex of St Nicholas Church are discussed in terms of origin, chronology and symbolic meaning. Northern and north-eastern annex of St Nicholas Church were revealed completely during the excavations led by Prof. Dr. S. Y. Ötüken between 1989-2009. In the article “A New Review on Northern Additional Structure of Demre-Myra St Nicholas Church”, architecture of the northern annex, architectural plastic stone pieces, ceramic and coin finds were evaluated. In this article, brick rosette on the K5 place façade of the northern additional structure was mentioned, but the pattern was not subject to a detailed study. Brick rosettes are especially found on the façade of the capital Constantinople (İstanbul), Anatolia, Balkans, Greece and Aegean Islands in the Middle and Late Byzantine Period. This type of brick rosettes is seen on structures with various functions such as palace, church, episkopeion, tower, Castle and fountain. The fact that a similar pattern is common among Emirates Period and Early Ottoman Period structures causes a discussion that it was made by Byzantine masters as well as pointing out to continuity of the pattern. Similar brick ornaments were named in various ways by researchers such as ‘rosette, sun pattern, symbol of light, sun disk, disk and round patterns’. In publications, it stands out that there is no consensus on the symbolic meaning, origin and chronology of the pattern. In this study, brick rosettes on the façade of northern and north- annexes of St Nicholas Church are compared in detail with examples from different geographies. The brick rosette on the façade of north-eastern annexes of the church is important in that it is a unique example which is painted and in which the original pattern can be identified. In this regard, rosettes on the northern and north-eastern annexes present interesting conclusions. Our goal is to identify the origin and chronology of the pattern and present how the symbolic meaning of the motive that is thought to be originating from pagan beliefs was transformed in the Early Christianity Period with examples. In this regard, impacts of the Unconquered Sun/Sol belief, which has become popular in Rome as of 3rd century, on Christianity was discussed within the framework of researchers’ views. We hope that the results would constitute a significant reference for similar studies on this subject that may be conducted in the future.
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