Culture Second_Bulgarian_Empire

1 culture

1.1 architecture
1.2 art
1.3 literature

culture

the second bulgarian empire centre of thriving culture reached peak in mid-to-late 14th century during reign of ivan alexander (r. 1331–71). bulgarian architecture, arts, , literature spread beyond borders of bulgaria serbia, wallachia, moldavia, , russian principalities , affected slavic culture. bulgaria influenced contemporaneous byzantine cultural trends. main cultural , spiritual centre tarnovo, grew second constantinople or third rome . bulgarian contemporaries called city tsarevgrad tarnov , imperial city of tarnovo, after bulgarian name constantinople—tsarigrad. other important cultural hubs included vidin, sofia, messembria, , large number of monasteries throughout country.

architecture

the network of cities in second bulgarian empire grew in 13th , 14th centuries; numerous new urban centres rose prominence. cities constructed in difficult-to-access locations , consisted of inner , outer town. nobility lived in inner town, included citadel, while citizens inhabited outer town. there separate neighbourhoods nobility, craftsmen, merchants, , foreigners. capital tarnovo had 3 fortified hills—tsarevets, trapezitsa, , momina krepost, built along meanders of yantra river. several neighbourhoods along river s banks including separate quarters western europeans , jews.

fortresses built on hills , plateaus—the byzantine historian niketas choniates said bulgarian castles in balkan mountains situated @ heights above clouds . built crushed stones welded plaster, in contrast monumental ensembles in north-east of country dating period of first empire. gates , more vulnerable sections secured pinnacled towers; these rectangular there irregular, circular, oval, triangular, or horseshoe-shaped towers.

the church of holy mother of god in donja kamenica

religious architecture prestigious; churches among decorated , solid edifices in country. throughout 13th , 14th centuries, basilicas replaced cruciform, domed churches 1 or 3 naves. church s exteriors had rich, decorative ornamentation alternating belts of stone , brickwork. further decorated green, yellow, , brown ceramic pieces. feature seen in several churches in messembria, including church of st john aliturgetos , 14th century church of christ pantocrator—which had rows of blind arches, four-leaved floral motifs, triangular ornaments, circular turquoise ceramics, , brick swastika friezes running along external walls. every church in tsarevets—over 20—and many of 17 churches in trapezitsa decorated similar techniques. rectangular belfry above narthex typical characteristic of architecture of tarnovo artistic school. churches, such holy mother of god in asen s fortress built during byzantine rule, reconstructed belfries.

the church of holy mother of god in donja kamenica in western part of bulgarian empire (in modern serbia) notable unusual architectural style. twin towers topped off sharp-pointed pyramidal elements, additional sharp-pointed details in each of pyramids 4 corners. towers , design entirely unusual , unprecedented in medieval bulgarian church architecture , influence hungary or transylvania.

the ruins of nobility house in tarnovo

the imperial palace in tarnovo bolyar castle; underwent 2 major reconstructions under ivan asen ii (r. 1218–41) , ivan alexander (r. 1331–71). palace had shape of irregular ellipse , built-up area of 5,000 m (54,000 sq ft). walls 2 m (6.6 ft) thick. entrance gates guarded round , rectangular towers; main entrance located in round tower of northern façade. edifices built around inner yard richly decorated royal church in middle. patriarch palace situated on highest point of tsarevets , dominated city. plan resembled of imperial palace , occupied 3,000 m (32,000 sq ft). four-cornered bell tower adjoined patriarchal cathedral of holy ascension of god. residential , office sections located in southern part of edifice.

few examples of nobility houses have survived. north of imperial palace, foundations of bolyar house beginning of 13th century have been excavated. had Г-shaped plan , consisted of residential area , small, one-nave church. there 2 types of mass dwellings; semi-dug houses , overground houses. latter constructed in cities , had 2 stories; lower floor built crushed stones soldered mud or plaster , second built timber.

art


a depiction of kaloyan , desislava, ktitors of boyana church

the mainstream of bulgarian fine arts in 13th , 14th centuries known painting of tarnovo artistic school. despite being influenced tendencies of palaeogan renaissance in byzantine empire, bulgarian painting had unique features; first classified separate artistic school french art historian andré grabar. school s works had degree of realism, individualized portraits, , psychological insight. little secular art of second empire has survived. fragments of murals depicting richly decorated figure uncovered during excavations in throne room of imperial palace in tarnovo. walls of throne room decorated images of bulgarian emperors , empresses.

the frescoes in boyana church near sofia example of painting of tarnovo artistic school, dating 1259; among complete , best-preserved monuments of eastern european medieval art. unlike contemporary byzantine art , church canon, of 240 figures display individuality, psychological insight, , vitality. portraits of church s ktitors, kaloyan , desislava, , of ruling monarch constantine tikh , wife irene dressed ceremonial garments, realistic. rock-hewn churches of ivanovo in north-east of country contain several churches , chapels represent evolution of bulgarian art in 13th , 14th centuries. in paintings in churches of first period, painted during reign of ivan asen ii (r. 1218–41), human figures depicted in realistic style, oval faces , fleshy lips. colours of clothing bright, while 14th century frescoes in classical style of palaeogan period. both boyana church , rock-hewn churches of ivanovo included in unesco world heritage list.

frescos in rock-hewn churches of ivanovo

in tarnovo, no complete painting ensemble has survived. thirty-five scenes preserved in holy forty martyrs church feature mild tones , sense of realism characteristic of school. fragments of frescoes excavated in ruins of seventeen churches in tarnovo s second fortified hill, trapezitsa; among them depictions of military figures wearing richly decorated garments. palace chapel decorated mosaics. in western bulgaria, local characteristics of remnant art include archaism in composition , unshaded tones, examples of found in locations including zemen monastery, church of holy mother of god in donja kamenica, , church of st peter in berende.

many books of second bulgarian empire contained beautifully crafted miniatures, notable examples being bulgarian translation of manasses chronicle, tetraevangelia of ivan alexander, , tomić psalter, have 554 miniatures. style of miniatures, depict variety of theological , secular events , have significant aesthetic value, influenced contemporaneous byzantine works.

the tarnovo school continued; enriched traditions , icon designs of first bulgarian empire. notable icons include st eleusa (1342) messembria, kept in alexander nevski cathedral in sofia, , st john of rila (14th century), kept in rila monastery. boyana church frescoes, st john of rila uses realism , non-canonical design. of preserved icons feature silver platings enamel images of saints.

literature


a page of 14th century tetraevangelia of ivan alexander

the main centres of literary activity churches , monasteries, provided primary education in basic literacy throughout country. monasteries rose prominence providing more advanced education, included study of advanced grammar; biblical, theological, , ancient texts; , greek language. education available laymen; not restricted clergy. completed advanced studies called gramatik (граматик). books written on parchment, paper, imported via port of varna, introduced @ beginning of 14th century. @ first, paper more expensive parchment, end of century cost had fallen, resulting in production of larger numbers of books.

few texts 12th , 13th centuries have survived. notable examples period include book of boril , important source history of bulgarian empire, , dragan menaion, includes earliest known bulgarian hymnology , hymn tunes, liturgies bulgarian saints john of rila, cyril , methodius, , emperor peter i. 2 poems, written byzantine poet in court in tarnovo , dedicated wedding of emperor ivan asen ii , irene komnene doukaina, have survived. poet compared emperor sun , described him more lovely day, pleasant in appearance .

during 14th century, literary activities in second empire supported court, , in particular emperor ivan alexander (r. 1331–71), combined number of prolific scholars , clergymen, led remarkable literary revival known tarnovo literary school. literature patronized nobles , wealthy citizens. literature included translation of greek texts , creation of original compositions, both religious , secular. religious books included praising epistles, passionals, hagiographies, , hymns. secular literature included chronicles, poetry, novels , novellas, apocryphical tales, popular tales, such story of troy , alexandria, legal works, , works on medicine , natural science.

a page of 14th century bulgarian translation of manasses chronicle

the first notable 14th century bulgarian scholar theodosius of tarnovo (d. 1363), influenced hesychasm , spread hesyachastic ideas in bulgaria. prominent disciple euthymius of tarnovo (c. 1325 – c. 1403), patriarch of bulgaria between 1375 , 1393 , founder of tarnovo literary school. prolific writer, euthymius oversaw major linguistic reform standardized spelling , grammar of bulgarian language. until reform, texts had variations of spelling , grammar use. model of reform not contemporaneous language of first golden age of bulgarian culture in late 9th , 10th centuries during first bulgarian empire.

the ottoman conquest of bulgaria forced many scholars , disciples of euthymius emigrate, taking texts, ideas, , talents other orthodox countries—serbia, wallachia, moldavia, , russian principalities. many texts taken russian lands scholars speak second south slavonic influence on russia. close friend , associate of euthymius, cyprian, became metropolitan of kiev , rus , took bulgarian literary models , techniques. gregory tsamblak worked in serbia , moldavia before assuming position @ metropolitan of kiev. wrote number of sermons, liturgies, , hagiographies, including praising epistle euthymius . important bulgarian émigré constantine of kostenets, worked in serbia , biography of despot stefan lazarević described george ostrogorsky important historical work of old serbian literature .

apocryphal literature thrived in 13th , 14th centuries, concentrating on issues avoided in official religious works. there many fortune-telling books predicted events based on astrology , dreams. of them included political elements, such prophecy earthquake occurred @ night confuse people, treat emperor disdain. authorities condemned apocryphal literature , included such titles in index of banned books. nonetheless, apocryphs spread in russia; 16th century russian noble andrey kurbsky called them bulgarian fables .