[gothic-l] Re: Goths as more than barbarians

[F.E.J.D. IV]

 Greetings (Allyn?)
Indeed, the History channel's program titled "The Goths" (I think),
was very entertaining and also informative, I am glad you enjoyed it.
As concerns Peter Heather's book, however, one must understand that he
did not write it as mere entertainment but rather as academic history,
thus it may seem a bit pedantic in comparison. Peter however, has
terrific insights and I believe, was featured in the previously stated
program.

I must also point to the fact that the Goths had nothing to do with
the development of the arch (either the round arch or the pointed
arch). It is debatable but the idea for constructing arched spaces may
have come from the predominantly round forms of caves during our
cave-dwelling days. Arched structures are evident in the mammoth bone
structures of Mezhirich Ukraine as long ago as 18,000YBP. The
entrances and interior of the latter structures were constructed by
facing two mammoth tusks and binding a portion of their terminal ends
together so that the form resembled an "arch". Nonetheless, it is well
known that stone arches and archways were already in limited use in
ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece (see the citadel at
Tyrinis). The latter tended to be pointed due to the technique of
corbelling stones until they met at the apex. The "refined" pointed
arch as developed in about 12th century Europe is of course a motif of
what later came to be called the "Gothic" architectural style,
however, in its own day the style was known as the modern style or the
French style. Many individuals think (erroneously) that the Gothic
style and the pointed arch were developed by the Gothic peoples,
however, they were not. The term "Gothic" as it pertains to
architecture, is historically attributed to the Italian artist and
historian Georgio Vasari. Vasari, esteemed the architecture of
Michelangelo above all other styles and desired to delineate
Michelangelo's style from the French style which was still in use at
the time, thus, Vasari attributed the the French style as an "opus
Gothorum", (the work of the Goths). Of course, in Vasari's day the
Goths were thought to embody everything rude, uninformed and backward
since they were thought to have destroyed classical Roman
civilization, the very things that Renaissance society was then
re-discovering. Thus the word Gothic became a pejorative term to
indicate all things destructive, grotesque and uninformed.
Interestingly however, very little is known about permanent
architectural structures attributed to the Goths prior to their
arrival in the Roman empire, just some post hole patterns in Poland
around Kowalekwo and in a few other places. Also, relief carvings
found on the storied column (of Trajan I believe) shows us Roman
interpretations of what may have been temporary movable Germanic
dwellings. It is finally on Roman soil that the first Gothic
architectural forms are first seen, however these are built long after
the Goths have borrowed greatly from Roman and Byzantine forms.
Firstly, the Mausoleum of Theodoric (454-556?CE) follows the domed
rotunda plan of the Romans. Also, it is well attested that the
Visigoths in Spain built the church of Santa Maria, Quintanilla de las
Vinas, in Burgos. Santa Maria made great use of the Horseshoe arch
(borrowed from Rome). On these arches are seen many relief carvings
that show designs and motifs in use by the Goths prior to their
arrival in Rome. The latter include interlaced designs, vegetal and
zoomorphic (animal) forms especially eagles (or raptors) and heraldic
juxtaposition; more specifically, grapevines with heart shaped bunches
of grapes, birds of pray, palmettes and sun discs. Architecturally,
Santa Maria deviates substantially from the Roman/Christian use of
space; though it is modeled on the basilican plan, its interior space
in the nave is no longer flanked by two isles  leading to the altar,
instead, the isles open through two doorways into the choir, the which
separates the clergy from the laity, thus the Visigothic congregation
was barred from approaching the altar to receive communion.
There are many other churches and palaces built by the Visigoths,
including the architecture of the Asturian highlands in the north of
Spain. Asturian art and architecture were the most advanced
forerunners of what later became the Romanesque style. These buildings
were the first to use large buttresses to bear the weight transmitted
downward by vaulted roofs made from stone. Alas, these were the last
works of the Visigoths but in them is clearly seen a continuation of
the architectural techniques, forms, motifs and styles used by the
Visigoths since the beginning of their building tradition in Spain.
There Visigoths of course were more than just barbarians, they were
well versed in all of the arts and gave Europe historic institutions
such as the anointing of kings with holy oil (a tradition derived from
the Bible) and in Europe first practiced in the coronations of
Visigothic kings of Spain, a tradition that is still in use today. The
jewel encrusted votive crowns of Visigothic kings are intact and
reside in the treasury of several museums in Spain and France. The
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses an excellent collection
of fibulae including ceremonial horse bits owned by King Witiza which
I have researched extensively. There are Visigothic slate tiles
inscribed with writing excercises, messages, inventories, stories "
and even gossip. The Visigoths were also fond of music and played a
variety of instruments including the Spanish bagpipes called "gaita"
from the Gothic (gaits) meaning goat whence comes the material used in
constructing the bellows.

Of course, you must understand that the things I have mentioned are
only a small part of the story since what I have mentioned occurs
rather late in Gothic history. Also please see the beautiful treasure
of Pietroassa in Romania and other finds in many other parts of Europe.
Anyway...perhaps I will continue this thread when I settle back in, I
have just returned from an extended trip to Poland and still have a
bit of jet lag to overcome...

Cheers,
F.E.J.D. IV
Fernando Eladio (Frithunanths Elatheus) Jimenez Diaz






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