Abstract
The article deals with the medieval cathedral which is situated on the territory of the village Agu-Bedia (Abkhazia). The exterior of this building is decorated with limestone reliefs. The date of their production is in the focus of the research. Different kinds of sources (chronicles, inscriptions on frescoes inside the church, archeological evidences, architectural particularities, inscription on the liturgical vessel) witness that there were several periods in the history of the church construction. Its architectural forms also prove that the church was reconstructed several times. A part of the reliefs in question is in situ, another part fell down. They are dispersed chaotically around the church. Some of these reliefs, gathered under specially constructed tent, form the eastern part of the church. Other reliefs are reused in the masonry inside the cathedral. In course of the fi eld researches all the available reliefs were photographed and measured. The focus of the article is to analyze the carving of the documented artifacts and to attribute them. For the purpose these reliefs were categorized according to the character of their ornament. Each group is considered by its style, technique and iconography. The analogies help to date these groups by the period between the 11th and 16th centuries. The analysis of the forms of these reliefs allows us to suppose in which part of the cathedral they were originally situated.
Keywords
Abkhazia, Agu-Bedia, cathedral, Medieval architecture, dating
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