Images of Fish on Glazed Byzantine Ceramics of the 12th – 13th Centuries. Stylistic Groups

Abstract

Introduction. The study of zoomorphic ornamental motifs on specific types of glazed ceramics is an important direction of Byzantine archeology. In this case, we will be interested in the images of fish that are found on some types of Byzantine glazed ceramics of the second half of 12th – second half of 13th century. Since the ceramic production of this group of vessels was a separate area, both the material and spiritual culture of the Byzantines, especially in the specified chronological period, it was chosen as the subject of research. The source base of the work is made up of all published and available materials of archaeological research, both Constantinople and the cities of the Byzantine provinces. Particular attention is paid to the correspondence of each of the highlighted images on a specific type of glazed ware to finds on the territory of medieval Taurica. Despite the publication of the material used, including the Crimean, these findings were not analyzed in the complex. Methods and materials. Standard methods of comparative stylistic analysis were used. Analysis. The use of a large number of sources allows for the first time to raise the question of the existence of several stylistic groups of fish within the same craft workshops. Results. The findings make it possible to distinguish five stylistic image groups and match them with two large groups of Byzantine glazed ceramics of Middle Byzantine Production, primarily Fine Sgraffito Ware and Incised Sgraffito or Aegean Ware. Images of fish on Cypriot ceramics are also briefly analyzed. The image of fish on the vessels of Italian workshops is a separate area of research and is not considered in the work.