Keywords: Virgil Podoaba; Cioran; provincialism; the Tg. Mures ethnographic museum; art museum of Tg. Mures; Nagy Imre; Totem exhibition in Tg. Mures; teh "Ion Vlasiu" Gallery;
Opinions about Targu Mures, interview with mayor Dorin Florea, opinions of various writers about the past, present and the futire of the town in his various aspects.
More...Keywords: Baptism, communism, Securitate, oppression, interview
The affiliation of Romania to the ex-Soviet system after the Second World War has as a consequence the eradication of religious cults and demolition of churches. It is also the case of all countries under the aura of the Soviet Union. All he believers stand for an enemy for the communist regime. That is why the surveillance of the cults represented an everyday aim for Securitate. This study, based on 19 interviews to Baptist believers, analyses actions and methods used by Securitate against the Baptist community, the way in which they were received by Baptists and also the oppressions they were kept under.
More...Keywords: scientific report
Secretary-general’s report of the 2015 year about the activity of the Transylvanian Museum Society.
More...Keywords: clay pipes;tobacco;smoking;Ottoman period;Timișoara;
We present a number of 29 pipes and fragments of clay pipes found during the preventive archaeological excavation carried out in 2014 on Lucian Blaga and Radu Negru streets in Timișoara. According to the typology, we have three main groups: I. Reddish undecorated pipes, II. Ottoman pipes, III. Hungarian pipes, grouped by similar characteristics in shape, decorative pattern and clay type of which they were manufactured. The items display features characteristic of pipes produced in the Balkan and Central European area. Some resemble those discovered in 2006 in the historical centre of Timișoara (Sfântul Gheorghe and Libertății squares and 9 Mai Street) and published in 2012. The most common material used was very good quality grey clay, followed by reddish clay and kaolin. The items are serial, produced in moulds, simple or decorated predominantly with geometric, floral or combined pattern, or, later, by stamping or with cogwheel into the smooth paste before baking. The earliest pipe (Cat. 11) is smaller in size, made of gray clay and carefully worked, similar to the earlier clay pipes produced in the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. Pipes made of kaolin (Cat. 15–23) are of different sizes, and were used during the 17th century, except one undecorated pipe (Cat. 27), which can be dated to the beginning of the 18th century. Ottoman clay pipes made of reddish‐colored clay are larger compared to previous specimens and can be dated in the second half of 17th and in the early 18th century. The earliest pipes have short and thickened stem, and the ring very well shaped (Cat. 12), smaller volume of the bowl or of the combustion chamber (Cat. 14, 24), then, gradually, the stem has been elongated (Cat. 13, 25), the opening on the inside of the ring became larger, and the bowl and the combustion chamber became larger too (Cat. 26–27, 29). Following the same features of Ottoman production, the pipe manufactured in Hungary, probably in the Austrian period, is richly decorated with patterns of lines and dots, spread on the entire surface of the piece (Cat. 28). An angle of approximately 90 0 between the stem and the bowl characterizes the earliest pipes analyzed in this study. Gradually, the opening angle begins to shrink, so that the angle of some pieces dated in the 18th century measures approximately 45 degrees . Another observation regards the position of the ring. For the earliest pieces, the ring is located towards the lower half of the stem, leaving its end more or less visible (Cat. 12–13, 15–17, 19–20), while for the later pipes the ring is very prominent and situated at the end of the stem (Cat. 1–7, 18, 25, 27–28). Only one pipe was fully preserved, while the rest are fragmentary. The items were found in various archaeological contexts. Three pipes were found in archaeological features, two of them discovered during the excavation on Lucian Blaga Street, in the structures named C1 (Cat. 1) and C3 (Cat. 9). A third one came from Radu Negru Street, from the filling of C8 (Cat. 19). According to the analogies, these clay pipes were manufactured in the second half of the 17th century and the first half of 18th century. Although clay pipes are chronological markers, they could not be corroborated with the rest of the archaeological discoveries, so the absolute dating of the two wooden structures belonging to the Ottoman period remains unknown. We only know that, in the filling of C1 structure, two fragments of porcelain, dating from the 17th century, were found. Six clay pipes were found in the undisturbed filling of the archaeological layers, during the excavation on Lucian Blaga Street. The dating of the archaeological levels during the second half of the 17th century and at the beginning of 18th century is indicated by two pipes (Cat. 12, 27). The last Ottoman level of habitation from the end of 17th century to the first half of the 18th century is confirmed by the discovery of four fragments of clay pipes (Cat. 6, 11, 14, 25). The rest of the pipes were discovered in secondary position, in layers with mixed soil, in fillings with rubble resulting from the construction the Austrian drainage system, or in levels affected by urban interventions from modern times. Seven of the eight pipes originating from clearly Ottoman archaeological context were found in the northern half of the excavated section on Lucian Blaga Street, in the first three sectors, close to nowadays Libertății Square, where the ruins of a bath, used during the Ottoman period, were found (Fig. 5). It is quite possible that the agglomeration of pipes may have been generated by the presence of these structures which, in that period, were not only a facility for cleaning the body, but also for a place for spending the free time. Statistically, most clay pipes are dated in the second half of the 17th century, this being probably the period when the smoking habit was most widespread in Timișoara (Fig. 14). We cannot know their origin, because the pipes are not stamped. There is a possibility that two of the pipes have been brought from workshops in Varna, identified by the analogies in decoration (Cat. 24) or shape (Cat. 27). The majority of the clay pipes found at Timișoara (41.12%) belong to group I (reddish undecorated pipes). Relatively frequent is the group II.3 (pipes from kaolin with glaze), which in Timișoara represents 18.69%, a high percentage compared to Greece (0.3–2%) or Bulgaria (0.9–3.8%). Their presence in Timișoara is probably due to the trade with nearby centres such as Budapest, Szekszárd, those in Serbia, or even Corinth, where the pipes are colored in shades of green, yellow and brown, similar to our items. Taking into account the large proportions of the archaeological excavation in Timișoara, the stratigraphic position of the pipes, in conjunction with the known chronology of the items published, may be a chronological marker for dating clay pipes found in other excavations, unpublished for the time being. Together with other artifacts, clay pipes are good indicators for the identification of the trade conducted between Ottoman Timișoara and cities or towns in the European provinces.
More...Keywords: Eparchy of Vad, Feleac and Cluj; interwar; priest Sebastian Stanca; bishop Nicolae Ivan
After the Great Union of December 1st, 1918, favorable circumstances were created for strengthening and establishing the national and ecclesiastical institutions in Transylvania. Since spring 1919, in Cluj began the foundation of those institutions that Hungarian domination did not allow: Romanian university “King Ferdinand I” the Romanian National Theatre and Opera, Romanian schools of all grades and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese. In the context of celebrating eighty years since the passing away of the founder of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj, Bishop Nicolae Ivan (1855-1936), we intend to bring the attention of the cultural and religious environment from Cluj on one of his most worthy collaborators and “first counselors” the scholar archpriest Sebastian Stanca, who stood beside him in founding and organizing the work of the new diocese of Cluj since 7/20 July 1919, when he was chosen among the 27 councilors of the Orthodox consistory from Cluj as a member in the school Senate. So the present study illustrates first the biography of the priest Sebastian Stanca, focusing then on two less known sides of his activity and of his works: memoirs and historiography on WWI and its contribution to the organization and the historiography of the Eparchy of Vad, Feleac and Cluj.
More...Keywords: gender studies; history; women; Romania; academia;
Gender studies has achieved a unique position of dubious notoriety in Romania. Within twenty- five years, it went from being unknown and not having even a terminology in Romanian to becoming a presumed threat to the morality of young people and a form of political “proselytism.” To understand this trajectory, I present a series of historical examples to illustrate how gender norms and gender ideologies have shaped social, economic, and political reality for people in Romania. I follow that historical framework with a short of narrative about the development of gender studies as a formal inter-discipline. My focus turns next to the question of how gender studies has been integrated with other academic disciplines and with policy making. My conclusions will focus primarily on what could be gained through the continued development of gender studies as a scholarly field recognized and supported by the academic community in Romania.
More...Keywords: Saint Vasile from Poiana Mărului; hesychasm; philocalic renewal; Jesus prayer; sketes; hermitages; Romanian monasticism;
Hesychasm is a movement of spiritual, theological and cultural revival of monastic origin, specific to the Orthodox teaching of the Christian East. Devotion to the name of Jesus was affirmed in Orthodoxy as the golden formula of the hesychastic prayer. The monasteries of the two Romanian Principalities experienced in the 18th century a period of philocalic renewal animated by the Jesus Prayer, especially through the great abbots and saints Vasile from Poiana Mărului and Paisius from Neamţ. In the mountains of Buzău, 11 hermitages were organized according to the hesychastic order established by St. Vasile from Poiana Mărului and populated with disciples trained by him. Abbot Vasile from Poiana Mărului is considered the most famous hesychast in Romania before Paisie. Abbot Vasile renewed the spiritual life of sketes and hermitages by harmoniously combining the ascetic life in Sinai and Athos with the spiritual experience of Slavic monasticism and with the established tradition on Romanian land. He managed to create an authentic current of spiritual renewal in the Romanian monasticism in the middle of the 18th century, able to transmit Hesychast spirituality to other Orthodox countries as well
More...Keywords: Orthodox theology; Church; Holy Trinity; Holy Scripture; trinitarian terminology; Baptism; Eucharist;
This article is a testimony of the work of the Dogmatics section of Orthodox Theology. In the holy Orthodox Church, we begin and do all things with pure faith in the mystery of the Revelation of the Most Holy Trinity.Each section of Orthodox Theology strives to contribute to the enlightenment of young theologians called by God to become servants of the holy altar. In order to not go astray on the path of the dogmatic truth about the Holy Trinity, we constantly need thorough research.As the divine Apostle Paul teaches us: “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians10:31, Philippians 1:11)
More...Keywords: predania; transmission; continuity; divine revelation; master-disciple relationship; teaching; Saint John the Evangelist; Prochorus; disciple of Saint John the Theologian;
The Judeo-Christian culture is par excellence a logocentric culture, derived from the Word of the Creator and from the founding narrative, which, being fundamental elements for shaping this culture, is however transmitted in writing. From the Tablets of the Law, where the Decalogue is written by the finger of God himself, to the Pentateuch dictated to Moses (the Torah), or the Gospels instilled into the four apostles under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, an entire sacred history unfolds under the sign of revelation and, implicitly, of the imperative to transmit the revealed truths, i.e. the “predanie”.Starting from this observation, our study aims to focus on, and analyse, some of the symbols that are recurrently exploited to suggest the idea of revelation received and transmitted instantaneously, starting from the representation of St. John the Evangelist dictating the Gospel (or The Book of the Revelation or the Apocalypse) to his disciple Prochorus.
More...Keywords: Rusyn; Ukrainian; national identity; Romania; minority;
Rusyns. They claim they are not Ukrainian, but a distinct nation. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, there has been a revival of the Rusyn people in several countries, where they managed to be recognized as a distinct minority. As a consequence, this raised the question of their true identity, but so far there are relatively few studies dealing with this topic, and they are generally presenting either a pro-Ukrainian point of view, or a pro-Rusyn point of view. This paper presents an overview of the most relevant arguments taken into consideration, when discussing the origin and the historical path of the Rusyn people, as well as a few aspects in terms of ethnic features. The paper is part of a more extensive study regarding the Rusyn community, in the context of presenting the status and condition of the Ukrainian national minority in Romania.
More...Keywords: archaeozoology; Middle Ages; Ottoman period; Turnu Fortress; animal husbandry;
The fauna analysed from Turnu Fortress discovered during archaeological research carried out between 2006 and 2009 belong to the XVII-XVIII centuries. Archaeological contexts have been attributed to the Ottoman habitation and the fauna analysed is part of the diet of the community who lived in this fortress. Most of the faunal remains belong to mammals, but fragments of molluscs, fish, reptiles and birds have also been identified. The analysed sample, extremely rich for the period, reveal the consumption almost exclusively of domestic species, which would suggest that animal husbandry played an important role for the Ottoman community at Turnu Fortress. Small and large ruminants are the most exploited for food consumption, followed by horses, while pigs are almost absent. Hunting and poultry farming activities are also highlighted.
More...Keywords: university; Cluj; numismatics; research; Antiquity; Middle ages; modern medals;
Articolul urmăreşte evoluţia preocupărilor Universităţii din Cluj pentru studiul monedelor. Universitatea maghiară a început să predea numismatică antică la începutul secolului al XX-lea. În perioada interbelică, noua Universitate Română nu a mai cultivat numismatica în procesul didactic, în ciuda progresului evident în cercetarea în domeniu. În timpul dictaturii comuniste, cu toate constrângerile ideologice, cercetarea şi publicarea materialelor monetare a făcut progrese mari, fără ca numismatica să fie introdusă ca materie de studiu. Abia după 1990 s-au reluat la Cluj cursurile universitare de numismatică antică, cu efecte benefice asupra cercetării. A început şi studiul sistematic al medaliilor moderne. Din păcate, numismatica medievală continuă să fie neglijată. Sunt necesare eforturi viitoare pentru a menţine specialitatea la un nivel european competitiv.
More...Keywords: Roman period; golden earring; Hercules knot; filigree; granulation; baldachin type funerary building;
The goal of this archaeological note is to present one jewel made of gold, from Cârjiți, Hunedoara County. There is no data regarding the time or context of the discovery. The item is part of the old archaeological collection of the Museum of Dacian and Roman Civilisation (Fig. 1) and represents a Hercules knot type earring. The hoop type earring has a loop and hook closing system. It was made from golden wire, sheet and spherical pearls, and is lushly decorated in the filigree and granulation technique (Fig. 2). It weighs 5.02 g and now measures 2.8 cm. The object is deformed since antiquity and was broken in two (Fig. 3). When in use, the diameter of the circular artefact was under 2 cm. The eight shaped head is widened – Hercules knot.Our piece is part of a well-defined series of jewels, born under Hellenistic influence. The central ornamentation of the adornments is the Hercules knot motif, sometimes excessively decorated with filigree and granulated elements. These jewels are spread in a limited space comprising parts of the Roman provinces Upper Moesia, Lower Pannonia, Thracia, and Lower Moesia, to which Dacia is added. Dated in the 2nd-3rd centuries, the earrings reveal three variants evolving from the items with the knot fully visible, the filigree and/or granulated decoration covering here and there the wire structure, to the ones with an entirely decorated head. The relevance of the artefact from Cârjiți also resides in the fact that it is the first golden earring similar to the ones from the Lower Danube provinces coming from Dacia. Sadly, as the archaeological context, material associations and close dated analogies are lacking, the chronology of the item is subject to the large time span of the 2nd-3rd centuries.A Roman settlement was reported in the area where the earring was discovered, with a close by necropolis, both supplied from a small stone quarry (Figs. 4-5). In the lack of archaeological research and petrographic analyses, we cannot discuss the amplitude of the habitation and its character or the scale and destination of the stone exploitation. However, we must note the position of the site in regards to the main (on Mureș and Strei valleys) and secondary (for example, on Cerna valley) Roman communication routes, but especially related to Micia and the Poiana Ruscă iron exploitations or the copper ones in the Deva area (Fig. 6).As a hypothesis, we believe that the golden earring could have come from the Roman tomb described by Téglás Gabor at the end of the 19th century. Moreover, we consider that this funerary structure could be framed in the category of baldachin type monuments, only few being archaeologically documented in the province of Dacia.
More...Keywords: Destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; the Paris Peace Conference; the Treaty of Trianon; consolidation of the Romanian nation state; Greater Romania;
The authors of the article, studying Romanian and foreign bibliographical materials, some of them less known, highlight aspects of the events of the period 1919 - 1920, carried out by the Romanian authorities, both internally and externally, defining in the consolidation of the Romanian national unitary state. The authors of the article analyse the events that took place during the Paris Peace Conference and how they contributed to the fulfilment of the Romanian people's age-old aspirations, which gave them and still gives them viability in time, especially now that some great powers, through violence, want to go back in time, in order to regain their lost influence over territories and nations. The establishment of the Romanian national unitary state in 1918 and the international legal consecration of its borders by the Paris Peace Conference of 1919-1920, highlight the undeniable truth, which some have tried and still try to contest. We, the people of today, know that Greater Romania did not come about through the conquest of territories using armed force, but through the will of the entire nation to live united, free and independent in our ancestral homeland, from which no one will ever be able to dislodge us.
More...Keywords: Roman Dacia,; Dacian limes; Roman military equipment; Barbaricum; Moesia Inferior;
This paper is an up-to-date research on the Roman military equipment found in Barbaricum beyond the Dacian limes previously dealt with in a lecture published in 1999 in the Proceedings of the 17th Congress of the Frontier Studies. The discussion of other 10 items gave the opportunity to draw additional conclusions and find more evidence for the already made statements. So, nine pieces (nos. 1-9) were discovered in the autochthonous settlements concentrated in the central part of the historical region of Wallachia (Fig. 1). Among them there are only two weapon accessories (nos. 4 and 8) and the rest of the items (nos. 1-3, 5-7, 9) are belt and baldric fittings. All the military equipment pieces date from the end of the 2nd century AD until c. AD 260. The origin of the items found at Mătăsaru (nos. 7-9) is almost certain in Roman Dacia. The others (nos. 1-6) discovered along the roads linking the southern Danubian bank with the main part of Roman Dacia placed inside the Carpathian Mountains probably originate in Moesia Inferior. The earlier piece (no. 10) unearthed in the Vandal settlement at Medieșu Aurit was obviously imported from Dacia Porolissensis. Both weapon accessories belong to types distributed throughout the Roman Empire. No. 6 is a representative of the eastern variant of the ring-buckles met in Syria, Dacia and Moesia and the rest of the belt and baldric fittings belong to variants diffused only in the Danubian provinces.
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