Gligora cave church near Karlukovo (late XIII – early XIV century) Medieval Costumes of two girls from the aristocratic family

Gligora cave church near Karlukovo (late XIII – early XIV century)

Medieval Costumes of two girls from the aristocratic family

General Information about this object: 

" ... The monastery chapel " Nicholas " , also called " Gligora " on the left bank of the river Iskar near Karlukovo . Two- nave church was built somewhere on the border between the XIII and XIV century , is now almost destroyed. Recently discovered fragments of the first layer are removed from the walls and are the sites of the museum in the town of Lovech. These are ... and three votive images on the retaining wall surrounding an open gallery in the churchyard - the images of two young boyars and abbot Daniel ( labeled ), St. Nicholas and candle, to which the inscription refers to someone (L ) obrosl ( ac) . ... Costumes and the Eurosystem of Boyar find parallels in the monuments and in archaeological finds from XIII - XIV century . "

Source: Liliana Mavrodinova , "wall painting in Bulgaria by the end of the XIV century " Academic Publishing House "Prof. Drinov " , Sofia, 1995

Murals after computer processing.

Costume Information 

In the production of both schemes met the colors described by Liliana Mavrodinova in her book dedicated to Karlukovski skits . According to her, the girls wear gold narakvitsi ( wrist ) , but I think in this case, rather decorate the bottom liner. Staining after two black stripes would give some guidance , but black and white image that can not be seen. Top tunic strongly resembles depicted in Stanichene - white, very broad and long-sleeved woven into small pieces . Specifically at the neckline - very wide , decorated with colored stripe , two rows of pearls and precious stones (perhaps brooch ?) . It is possible that the stone is not the function of the fastener . Cloak like a long vest . Her neckline segues into a crevice to bottom, lined with braid and fastened rather sparsely with small round buttons. Such clothing is not present in other portraits reserved . Fall behind many decorative pieces. Generally appear to be sufficiently wide to be part of the functional sleeve , but not quite enough to fit the fabric of the sleeves of the tunic . 

The two costume schemes:

Liliana Mavrodinova mentioned that this could actually be a cloak , but the shoulders are quite well preserved because there is not really an extra layer of fabric or links , I think it too unlikely . Unlike the little girl in Lower Kamenica , depicted with a very simple covering of the head in relation to that of his mother, here preserved part of the head is really complicated decorations , including the " so-called . ic system , almost identical to that on the head of Desislava frescoes of the Boyana " ( under management solution means tiara with fabric bottom) , and something like a string of pearls , drop down and sideways to the ears . Diadem looks like a thick ring with precious stones. This is witnessed by the other images - Boyana , Stanichene - but not by archaeological finds. The same thing applies to the narrow neck necklaces.

The girl on the left there is the same type of cover on hand, but this really might be the on wrist. There is no clear line that distinguishes the decoration. Tunic is no horizontal colored stripes on the shoulders and upper garment - no gap at the front and narrower neck. Decorative pieces could be seen (if they exist), because the girl was partially hidden by his sister. Head is not preserved, and nothing can be said about the hair.

The Costumes Illustration: Two Medieval Bulgarian Girls