ZGOŠĆANSKI STEĆAK
(ZGOSCA'S TOMBSTONE)
A special place in the
cultural history of BiH is held by stećci, tombstones decorated with writings in
Bosnian alphabet (bosančica) and numerous sculptures which together represent a
part of life and history of BiH. One of the most beautiful, if not the most
beautiful, is stećak from Zgošća found in Kakanj municipality, in the locality
of Crkvine near the present day mine Zgošća. Archaeologist and ethnographer Ćiro
Truhelka moved it to the botanical garden of the State museum in Sarajevo in
1914 where it remains today.
Stećak, almost 14 tones in weight, was carved by an artist from Dalmatia in
Romanic style using brown limestone found in the locality of stećak (locality
Ispod kamena on the western side of Cross hill left of Bijela voda stream).
Ornamentation of stećak has always attracted attention of numerous
historians, archaeologists and art historians but it is still unclear as to whom
it was erected for. Some experts connect it with ban Stjepan II Kotromanić,
others with Kulin Ban while some say it belonged to a branch of the Kotromanić
dynasty.
Stećak from Zgošća is rich in ornaments and sculptures. The front side of the
sarcophagus-shaped monument shows a town with gate, two large towers next to it
and two smaller towers in the corners. In front of the town sits ban on the
throne with two aids on each side. On one tower there is a lady sitting on the
balcony and looking around. Beneath this composition there are two servants
holding two saddled horses prepared for nobles to mount them. On the right side
there are two rows showing two scenes: the upper row shows four armoured knights
ridding horses from right to left surrounded by swords and spears; the lower one
is an account of hunting in the forest. The bottom of stećak is decorated with
six fields holding stars carved out of circles.
Vejsil Ćurčić, who studied ancient weapons in BiH, thinks that part of stećak
from Zgošća shows a knight tournament.
Let us also say that a cast replica of stećak is located in the crypt of the
Franciscan monastery's church in Kraljeva Sutjeska.
Text prepared by: prof. dr. Fra Stjepan Duvnjak |
