Tauride Chersonesus presents two capsule exhibitions at once for the New Year

On the eve of the winter holidays, visitors to the museum-reserve will be able to get acquainted with unique artifacts in the building of the Byzantine exposition. From December 26, a capsule exhibition “Bone Tools for Ornamenting Modeled Ware in the Bronze Age” was opened in the hall of the small hall, and in the main hall there was an exhibition of one exhibit, “Christmas in Byzantium. From Constantinople to Chersonesos.»

You can get acquainted with pottery craft and national patterns in the exhibition “Bone Tools for Ornamenting Modeled Ware in the Bronze Age.” Visitors will learn that primitive people learned to make ceramics back in Neolithic times, and pottery at different periods of history was decorated with ornaments — a specific type of fine art that symbolically reflects the inner and outer world of man.

The variety of signs of traditional ornament carried encrypted meanings. They were understandable to both artisans and those who used the dishes, since they reflected the spirit of the era, magical beliefs and religious beliefs. Some types of ornaments were widespread among many peoples of the world at the same time. The simplest are patterns of straight horizontal and vertical lines: the first symbolize the surface of the earth, the second — rain, thunderstorms.

At the exhibition “Christmas in Byzantium. From Constantinople to Chersonesus» presents a miniature icon of the Nativity of Christ, carved on a steatite plate. It was made by capital craftsmen in Constantinople at the end of the 11th–12th centuries. The miniature Chersonesos icon, distinguished by its fine carving and meticulous execution, has been preserved in fragments, but is perfectly legible. In the center of the composition you can see the Mother of God reclining on her bed, and nearby in a manger is a swaddled Baby. An ox and a donkey were bending over him — symbols of the Jewish and pagan peoples, to whom Christ equally brought salvation.

To the right above Jesus is a blessing and glorifying Angel, bringing the news of Christmas to the human race. In the lower left part you can see Joseph the Betrothed, deep in thought, talking with an old man with a staff, and to the right is a scene of the washing of the Child. It is noteworthy that the Byzantine iconography of the Nativity of Christ became the basis for all subsequent icons and frescoes on this subject, including ancient Russian ones. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the exhibition “Bone Tools for Ornamenting Modeled Ware in the Bronze Age” until January 7, and with “Christmas in Byzantium. From Constantinople to Chersonesos” – until January 31. You can visit both exhibitions for free from Tuesday to Sunday.,” noted the press service of the museum-reserve.

source: Development Department of the State Museum-Reserve «Chersonese Tauride»