Page 34 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

governing authorities. For there is no authority While the ram’s head directly evokes the sacri-
except from God, and the authorities that exist fice of Abraham and Isaac, the shell introduc-
are appointed by God.’ es themes of Divine conception and spiritual re-
The ram’s head carved into the capital in birth (Jensen 2011, 203; Bogdanović 2017, 279).
Ljuboten is also symbolically rich and deeply Its association with the Virgin Mary and the in-
rooted in biblical narrative, reflecting themes of carnation of the celestial Logos enhances the
sacrifice, redemption, and leadership. This im- symbolism of this composition (Maguire 2011,
agery draws from the sacrificial story of Abra- 49).
ham and Isaac, as described in Genesis 22:13: The shell’s origins can also be traced to an-
‘Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and cient biblical texts and early Christian writings.
there behind him was a ram caught in a thick- In the Old Testament, specifically in Judges 6:36
et by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the and following, Gideon’s fleece was used as a Di-
34 ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead vine sign. This motif later evolved into broad-
of his son.’ The narrative presents a ram as a sub- er Marian symbolism through the Physiologus,
stitutionary sacrifice, highlighting Divine prov- a late 2nd-century text. There, the shell is seen
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 12 (2024), številka 2 / volume 12 (2024), number 2
idence and the theme of redemption through as representing the two testaments of the Bible.
sacrifice. Although this does not directly link the shell to
King Dušan, who succeeded his father, the Virgin Mary’s conception, it sets the stage for
King Stefan Dečanski, might be symbolical- later theological interpretations.
ly linked to this biblical narrative. The carving Early Christian theologians such as Clem-
of the ram’s head may allude to the complex dy- ent of Alexandria in ‘Paidagogus’ II, 63, 5 (Clé-
namics between Dušan and his father. Just as the ment of Alexandria in Migne and Le Nourry
ram replaced Isaac as a sacrifice, the ram’s pres- 1857, 393) adopted the shell as a symbol of the
ence could metaphorically reflect Dušan’s role in heavenly Logos’ incarnation. Here, the shell sig-
supplanting his father’s rule, drawing a parallel nifies the virginal conception of Christ. 5
to the Old Testament substitution story. Dečan-
ski’s death and Dušan’s subsequent rise to pow- 5 The idea that readily accessible scallop-shell fossil beds
er might mirror the tension and transformation might have been used as pilgrimage souvenirs during
the medieval period is intriguing. Historical records in-
present in the Abrahamic sacrifice story (Mar- dicate that various fossils, such as belemnites (often re-
janović-Dušanić 1997, 209). ferred to as thunderbolts, Devil’s fingers, or St Peter’s fin-
Moreover, the ram’s head being prominent- gers), gryphea (known as the Devil’s toenail), and crinoid
stems (referred to as St Cuthbert’s beads), were interpreted
ly positioned near Dušan’s figure may reveal and valued both in antiquity and medieval times (Mayor
metropolitan artistic motifs that Dušan, who 2000; Bassett 1982). It seems plausible that fossilized pect-
en shells, when readily available, could have been utilized
had spent part of his youth in Constantinople, as pilgrimage tokens, either genuinely or in a more sym-
would have encountered there. Such motifs of- bolic context. Research from 1970 demonstrated that the
ten symbolize strength and leadership, aligning amino acid content of Pecten shells decreases with the age
of the fossil (Akiyama and Wyckoff 1970, 1097). Cf. Hall
with Dušan’s regal imagery and his efforts to es- (2005). Therefore, exploring whether there is a correlation
tablish legitimacy. The ram’s symbolism thus in- between known pilgrimage souvenirs and their geological
origins might be fruitful. Specifically, could pilgrim scal-
tertwines with both the biblical narrative of Di- lops be identified as fossils, and if so, could they be traced
vine provision and the imperial ambitions of back to their geological sources? In connection with royal
Dušan, reinforcing his role as a ruler shaped by iconography, this inquiry could reveal interesting insights.
The scallop shell is a prominent symbol associated with pil-
both Divine and historical forces. grimage and spiritual journeys, aligning with the concept
The shell, a symbol rich in religious and of divine incarnation. This symbolism ties into the broad-
er theme of sacred journeys and transformation, echoing
cultural connotations, adds a profound layer of the royal and divine imagery found in medieval art and ar-
meaning to the overall composition, particu- chitecture. Exploring the historical use of these shells in
the context of pilgrimage and their representation in re-
larly in its placement alongside the ram’s head. ligious iconography might deepen our understanding of