Petercsák Tivadar: Várak és múzeumok - Studia Agriensia 29. (Eger, 2010)
Az Egri Vár Napja ikonológiája
THE ICONOLOGY OF EGER CASTLE DAY Since 2002 the Hungarian Semiotics Society and the Communications Department of Károly Eszterházy College have organized semiotics conferences to coincide with Eger Castle Day, held in commemoration of the heroic defence of the castle. In 2002, the 450th anniversary of the defence of the castle, October 17th was chosen as the day of remembrance, as it was on that day in 1552 that the Ottoman-Turkish units began their withdrawal from the castle walls, following their unsuccessful siege of the fortress. Taking the seven years of remembrance and the programmes into consideration the author comes to the conclusion that Eger Day, which has been known to attract as many as 8-10 thousand visitors, has become an integral part of the castle's calendar. At the same time it has helped strengthen a cult of the castle that has evolved over the centuries. Apart from the commemorations dedicated to the heroes and the heroic defence of the castle, the castle also puts on spectacular military displays devoted to other historical periods. Indeed, the imaginative hands-on children's programme not only forms an important element in the October 17th celebrations, it also helps guarantee the future of this historical tradition. The permanent backdrop to the individual programme elements is supplied by the renovated walls, bastions and buildings of Eger Castle itself. While they are there visitors are also free to inspect the museum exhibitions and the subterranean fortifications. So it is that those attending Eger Castle Day not only get a reliable picture of the history of the castle, they have an opportunity to pay their respects to the heroes of the 1552 siege, and participate in programmes that are likely to remain long in the memory. 257
