Zalai Múzeum 11. Kereszténység Pannóniában az első évezredben (Zalaegerszeg, 2002)

Nagy, Mihály: Typological Considerations on Christian Funerary Buildings in Pannonia

Typological Considerations on Christian Funerary Buildings in Pannónia 25 Measurement Actual measurement ideal measurement of the reconstructed plan Difference between actual and ideal measurements Measurement mm pM digiti mm digiti pM mm % Thickness of hexagonal EW wall 1200 4.05 64.86 1184 64 4 16 + 1.35135 Thickness of semicircular apse walls 800 2.70 43.24 888 48 3 -88 -9.90 Diameter of apses 3800 12.83 205.40 3848 208 13 -48 -1.24740 From the measurements it turns out clearly, that the building was laid out in Roman feet. From the published data and drawings we may reconstruct the original plan as follows (Fig. 4.). First, we should determine the main East-West axis of the building with point A on it. Draw a perpendicular line (NS axis) through point A. From point A as a centre, draw a circle with 200 digiti = 12.5 pM cutting the axes at points BCD and E. With compass unchanged, from points В and D intersect the circle at points EF and GH. Join points BEFDGH. Repeat the process with a radius of 280 digiti = 17.75 pM, to create B'D'E'F'G'H'. The above points joined together determine the walls of the hexagonal central space (except the wall on the eastern side). From point A draw lines bisecting the sides of the hexagon. From point A as a centre draw a circle with radius 300 digiti = 18.75 pM cutting the axes at points IJKLMN. From points IJKLMN draw half circles with radius 104 digiti = 6.5 pM in order to determine the inner surface of the apse walls. (The inner diameter of the apses is identical with the length of the side of the inner hexagon BEFDGH). The half circle drawn from point I intersects the EW axis at point P. Repeat the process with a radius of 152 digiti = 9.5 pM, in order to determine the outer surface of apse walls. Parallel with axes EW, JM and KN join half circles that determined the inner surface of apse walls, with sides of the hexagon. The eastern wall of the hexagonal space, cutting the EW axis at point O, lies closer to the centre than the other walls. The distance between the central point A and the eastern wall of the hexagon is 160 digiti = 10 pM. The outer length of this wall was probably also 10 pM. In front of the building a small antechamber stood, of which only a fragment of the northern wall survived. The reconstruction here is purely conjectural, but I have supposed, that the total outer length of the building was 800 digiti - 50 pM (i.e. double of the diameter of the first circle). The extraordinary position of the eastern wall of the hexagon may be explained similarly like in case of the cella septichora of Pécs; that is the objective of the architect was to decrease the inner total length of the building. In this case the distance between points О and P is 564 digiti = 35.25 pM. The importance of this dimension becomes clear, if we suppose, that like in Pécs, the original plan here too contained a staurogram.

46 If we accept this concept, then the perpendicular line of the cross is identical with the distance between point В and D, which is 400 digiti = 25 pM long (Fig. 5.). The ratio between the two largest inner dimensions of the building, that is length and width is 564:400=1.41. The result (1.41) equals л/ 2. The ratio V 2 is generated by the process of doubling the square, (V2 being the length of the diagonal of a square with 1 unit long sides) and describing it, Vitruvius refers to the method used by Plato.

47 Number six is perfect, according to Augustine, since it is the sum of its parts: 1x2x3=1+2+3=6, and since God created man on the sixth day. The hexagon, around which the apses are grouped, was intended to symbolise time.

48 Summarising our results we may establish, that in certain cases, traces of Neoplatonist philosophy can be observed in the plans of Late Roman funerary buildings in Pannónia. We may also suppose, that certain ground plans may have contained Christian symbols; i.e. these symbols were inscribed in the plans and the walls of the building encircled them as they were inscribed into oil lamps, lamp-hangs and wall paintings.The presence of Neoplatonism and Christianity in leading Pannonian centres like Sopianae and Aquincum is not a surprise: it rather means, that Pannonian architects were also familiar with current ideas. It was the era, as Ferenc Fülep together with other scholars - stated "that the martyrcult at Sopianae flourished only after the decline of Arianism, and after the beginning of the reaction of Ambrosian orthodoxy."

49 On the basis.of geometrical analysis, in the future we shall be able to work out a new typology, according to which we can separate two main groups: one with Neoplatonist-Christian ideological background, and one without it.