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Drake, basilisk, amphisbaena eller senmurv? : Frågor kring några tidiga fasadreliefer i Vä, Skåne

Berggren, Lars LU (2022) In ICO Iconographisk Post p.39-71
Abstract
A dilemma that the iconographer is often faced with when it comes to medieval imagery is what the fantastic hybrid animals actually represent. What are they? What do they mean? On the outer walls of the mid 11th century church of Vä, in north-eastern Scania, there are a number of sadly withered reliefs that may be interpreted as representing a number of different mythological animals with completely different meanings. One of them has usually been interpreted as either a dragon or a basilisk, but there are in fact a number of other, and at least as likely, alternatives. Based on historical sources and pictorial parallels, Near Eastern, European as well as local, it is argued that this relief can very well represent an amphisbaena or a... (More)
A dilemma that the iconographer is often faced with when it comes to medieval imagery is what the fantastic hybrid animals actually represent. What are they? What do they mean? On the outer walls of the mid 11th century church of Vä, in north-eastern Scania, there are a number of sadly withered reliefs that may be interpreted as representing a number of different mythological animals with completely different meanings. One of them has usually been interpreted as either a dragon or a basilisk, but there are in fact a number of other, and at least as likely, alternatives. Based on historical sources and pictorial parallels, Near Eastern, European as well as local, it is argued that this relief can very well represent an amphisbaena or a simurgh, the latter with a theological meaning totally opposite to a dragon or basilisk. The simurgh, together with other mythical animals of ancient Persian origin, may well have been introduced into recently Christianised Medieval Denmark either through direct contacts with Byzantium, or via Italy and France, before appearing on at least two of the earliest high status stone churches (Lund and Vä), perhaps as a symbol of resurrection. Another intriguing motif is an Agnus Dei which, contrary to established iconography, shows the lamb holding two rods instead of one. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
alternative title
Dragon, Basilisk, Amphisbaena or Simurgh? : Questions Regarding some 11th-Century Façade Reliefs on Vä Church, Scania
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
ICO Iconographisk Post
issue
1-2
pages
33 pages
ISSN
2323-5586
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
72ce8a75-9a1c-4ae8-865d-fb7381615e13
alternative location
https://ojs.abo.fi/ojs/index.php/ico/article/view/1762
date added to LUP
2023-01-30 21:12:50
date last changed
2023-02-01 15:55:20
@article{72ce8a75-9a1c-4ae8-865d-fb7381615e13,
  abstract     = {{A dilemma that the iconographer is often faced with when it comes to medieval imagery is what the fantastic hybrid animals actually represent. What are they? What do they mean? On the outer walls of the mid 11th century church of Vä, in north-eastern Scania, there are a number of sadly withered reliefs that may be interpreted as representing a number of different mythological animals with completely different meanings. One of them has usually been interpreted as either a dragon or a basilisk, but there are in fact a number of other, and at least as likely, alternatives. Based on historical sources and pictorial parallels, Near Eastern, European as well as local, it is argued that this relief can very well represent an amphisbaena or a simurgh, the latter with a theological meaning totally opposite to a dragon or basilisk. The simurgh, together with other mythical animals of ancient Persian origin, may well have been introduced into recently Christianised Medieval Denmark either through direct contacts with Byzantium, or via Italy and France, before appearing on at least two of the earliest high status stone churches (Lund and Vä), perhaps as a symbol of resurrection. Another intriguing motif is an Agnus Dei which, contrary to established iconography, shows the lamb holding two rods instead of one.}},
  author       = {{Berggren, Lars}},
  issn         = {{2323-5586}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{39--71}},
  series       = {{ICO Iconographisk Post}},
  title        = {{Drake, basilisk, amphisbaena eller senmurv? : Frågor kring några tidiga fasadreliefer i Vä, Skåne}},
  url          = {{https://ojs.abo.fi/ojs/index.php/ico/article/view/1762}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}