Typology of Crescent-Shaped Pendants Cover Image

Typology of Crescent-Shaped Pendants
Typology of Crescent-Shaped Pendants

Author(s): Aurel Dragotă
Subject(s): Archaeology
Published by: Editura Mega Print SRL
Keywords: crescent moon; technique; amulet; decoration; pseudo-granulation; casting

Summary/Abstract: Based on the typology developed by A. Kralovánszky (1959), to which I have correlated, thepresent paper identifies eight types of crescent-shaped (semilunar) pendants classified according to theirtechnique, decoration, endings and other complementary elements.Specimens of type 1a are the most numerous, followed by those of types 1d and 2a.The presence of a “glasses”-shaped ornament at the bottom of the pendants is only attested on types 2a- 2 c 1, provided with a simple ring lug. Motifs consisting of four diamond-shaped globules, with or withoutassignment to a register in the central field, can only be seen on types 2a 1 and Dragotă 6 from typology. Ingeneral, pieces without decoration but with stressed edge show a highlighted simple lug. The tubular lug isespecially encountered on ornamented specimens of type 1 a.I do not exclude the possibility that some of these items were used as amulets in women’s and children’s/ girls’ graves, but some may be indisputably related to the impact of the Byzantine cultural environmentand thus to the spread of Christianity. Their dissemination, especially in the sixth and seventh decades of thetenth century, also supports this working hypothesis. In addition, one can note their wide diffusion during theeleventh century, as indicated by their combination with Arpadian denarii emitted by Stephen I and Béla I. Otherelements with Christian values and meanings are combined with crescent-shaped (semilunar) pendants, such asperforated Roman coins 44 a Tomičić and pectoral crosses.In funerary inventories, crescent-shaped pendants are frequently associated with forms I-II, 1 b, 11 a-b, 31,33, 35 and more rarely with shapes 1 a, 4, 1 c, 8, 9, 10, 13, 30 and 50 Tomičić.Except for some minor similarities, a regional difference can be undoubtedly noticed between items foundin the southern and north-eastern areas of Europe and those of the western part of the continent.

  • Issue Year: 30/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 171-188
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English