Page 9 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

Editorial
Uvodnik

Zorana Đorđević
University of Barcelona, Spain.
zoranadordevic@ub.edu

Zrinka Mileusnić
University of Primorska, Slovenia
zrinka.mileusnic@fhs.upr.si
Jasmina S. Ćirić
University of Kragujevac, Serbia
jasmina.ciric@filum.kg.ac.rs
9
Xavier Costa Badia
University of Barcelona, Spain
xaviercosta@ub.edu

he second 2024 issue of Studia Universi- articles in this issue show a variety of perspec-
tatis Hereditati is dedicated to exploring tives and approaches to the medieval sensorium,
Tsensorial experiences related to medieval depicting the vast research potential and inter-
religious and artistic heritage. This Themathic disciplinary approaches to the topic. At the same
Issue builds upon the European Association of time, they form the basis for future research.
Archaeologists (EAA) annual meeting held in Eva Gjorgjievska’s study, ‘From Religious
August 2024 in Rome. The session titled Medie- Lauda to Medieval Canzone and Sonnet: Poet-
val Sensorium: Exploring the Archaeology of the ry of the Senses in 13th- and 14th-Century Italy’,
Senses brought together scholars from diverse examines sensory expressions in four medieval
disciplines to present their latest research. The religious and love poems by Italian poets—Jaco-
session was designed to explore the complex in- pone da Todi, San Francesco d’Assisi, Giacomo
terplay of senses within spatial contexts, the de- da Lentini, and Guido Guinizelli. Influenced
piction of sensory experiences in visual arts, and by the medieval Italian philosopher St. Thom-
the sensory encounters that enriched the lives of as Aquinas, who viewed reason and emotion as
medieval communities. Central to the discus- complementary, these poets emphasize sensory
sion was how medieval communities perceived, and emotional messages that bridge divine cre-
understood, and utilized their sensory reality. ation with the experiences of ordinary people.
The session included presentations on a broad Gjorgjievska highlights the therapeutic dimen-
spectrum of sensory encounters, both indoors sion of sensory poetics and demonstrates how
and outdoors, spanning sacred and secular spac- sensory experiences are activated during reading
es. This interdisciplinary dialogue highlighted or liturgical singing.
sensory perception's profound role in shaping Jasmina Ćirić’s article, ‘Sensory Encoun-
medieval cultural practices and landscapes. ters: Decoding the Symbolism of St. Nicholas
This Thematic Issue features five selected Church in Ljuboten’, offers fresh insights into
papers from the EAA session and one book re- the multi-layered art and architecture of the
view, illustrating that the study of senses in me- 14th-century Ljuboten church in present-day
dieval archaeology and other humanities dis- North Macedonia. The study demonstrates how
ciplines remains a fertile field for research. The a holistic methodology enhances iconograph-
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.12(2)9-12 © author/authors