Cahle medievale descoperite în Muntenia decorate cu scena leul bărbos păzind copacul vieţii
Medieval stove tiles discovered in Muntenia county featuring the bearded lion guarding the tree of life

Summary/Abstract: Thc rich ornamental pattern of medieval stove tiles found in Romania includes the bearded /ion guarding the tree of tije theme from a popular story of that time in Europe. This particular theme is found on terracotta tiles from the XVtl' century discovered in Central Europe. ln Romania, tiles decorated with this theme and dating from the end ofXVtl' century were found at Suceava Stronghold, Vaslui Royal Court, Făgăraş Stronghold and Târgovişte Royal Court. This ornamental thcme is found also on stove tiles dating from the end of the XVld' century, that were discovered at the Floci City (today in ruins), at that time located where lalomita and Danube rivers merge, at the border between Muntenia County and the Ottoman Empire. The archaeological excavations from 1978, 1980, 1995-1996 uncovered severa( fragments and a whole piece that were components ofheating stoves from two dwellings dating from the end ofthe XVlth century to the beginning ofthe XVllth century. This paper analyses the iconography of these artifacts. At the Floci City, the theme was adapted to the local medieval mentality. ln that respect, the lion is guarding a tree of life with branches represented by small crosses. Thus, thc whole theme is enriched with the symbol of holding intact the Christian religion, paramount for the survival of a small Christian nation geographically located in the close proximity ofa powerful Middle Age Muslim Empire.

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