Baltų zoomorfinis stilius

LTV a. pabaigoje - VI a. intensyvūs ir įvairialypiai baltų genčių santykiai su šiaurės germanais ir kitomis gentimis lėmė zoomorfinių motyvų atsiradimą baltų genčių taikomajame mene. Baltų papuošalų ornamentikoje zoomorfinis stilius, kaip savitas raiškos būdas, pastebimas nuo VII a. antrosios pusės - VIII a. Tuomet šis stilius ryškiausiai pasireiškė kuršiškų zoomorfinių segių dekore. VIII–IX a. kuršių juvelyrai, remdamiesi bendraeuropinėmis zoomorfinio meno tradicijomis, sukūrė savitą šio stiliaus variantą, skirtingai pasireiškusį atskirose papuošalų grupėse. Kuršių juvelyrikoje galima stebėti zoomorfinio stiliaus užuomazgas, tobulėjimo stadijas. Baltų zoomorfinio stiliaus įvaizdžiu buvo pasirinktas roplys. Vėlyvajame geležies amžiuje zoomorfinis stilius išplito visose baltų gentyse. Tačiau skirtingos baltų gentys zoomorfinius motyvus interpretavo savitais raiškos būdais. X–XII a. baltų zoomorfinis stilius išgyveno ne tik tolesnę raidą, bet ir akivaizdžią degradaciją.Reikšminiai žodžiai: Vėlyvasis geležies amžius; Baltų gentys; Zoomorfinsi stilius.; Late Iron Age; Baltic tribs; Zoomorphic style.; Zoomorfinis stilius; Baltai; Germanai.

ENThe intensive and various relations of Curonians, Semigallians, Prussians and other Baltic tribes with Northern Germans and Slavs had influence upon the appearance of Baltic zoomorphic motives of the Late Iron Age. However, Curonians and other Baltic tribes improved zoomorphic motives until the specific style that is characteristic only to Baltic tribes. In spite of the counterweight of the Baltic zoomorphic style of the Late Iron Age, the geometric character of Baltic ornamentation remains. In the late 5th - early 6th c.c, within the territory, settled by Baltic tribes, artefacts decorated with zoomorphic motives appeared. In this period, crossbow zoomorphic fibulas, wide bindings of drinking horns, beltplates, pins were decorated with various zoomorphic motives. However, in the period of the Great Migration of Nations, the Baltic zoomorphic style was not formed. The characterization of the style is one of the conceptions of art criticism that is interpreted in a great variety of ways. On an examination of archaeological artefacts, the problem of the application of the conception of a style to archaeology and the constant signs that define it arises. One of the signs of a style is general form and ornamentation of artefacts that enables to determine notional links with other artefacts or other cultures. In ornamentation, a style involves three most important aspects: primary motives, ways of their expression and structural links between the motives and expression. In the 8th-9th centuries, Curonian jewelers, following the traditions of zoomorphic art of the whole Europe, developed original zoomorphic style, based on geometric motives.The rudiments of the zoomorphic style and stages of its improvement may be observed herein. Other Baltic tribes used more abstract zoomorphic images that often drowned in geometrical motives. Baltic jewelers choose a reptile - a grass-snake or a snake - as the main motive of the zoomorphic style, most probably, because these animals were linked with their world outlook. In addition, a vital, plastically moving reptile provided an illusion of movement to the static geometrical Baltic applied art. Artefacts of more realistic expression are rarely found. On the examination of styles, it is impossible to avoid the conception of a stylization that involves not only inadequacies between the contents and plastic expression but also a specific transformation of the style by the creator and its adaptation to a bigger structure of the congeneric expression. Geometrization and abstrahation of motives are characteristic features of Baltic zoomorphical style. The most beautiful artefacts of zoomorphic style are dated to the 8th-9th c.c. In ornaments of the 10th-12th c.c, a further abstrahation of zoomorphic motives as well as the evident degradation of the style can be seen. Among Baltic tribes of the Late Iron Age, Curonians who created zoomorphic motives of various appearances for groups of ornaments distinguish themselves. In the article, crossbow, penannular, flat fibulas, bracelets, pins, curbs of riding bits are analyzed as examples of Baltic zoomorphic style. In these artefacts, Baltic zoomorphic style of the Late Iron Age expressed itself most evidently. [From the publication]