SYMBOLISM OF ZOOMORPHIC MOTIFS IN THE DECORATION OF TOMBSTONES IN JEWISH CEMENTERIES OF EASTERN GALICIA FROM THE 18TH TO THE FIRST THRID OF THE 20TH CENTURY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/uad.2023.6.6Keywords:
memorial sculpture, symbolism of imagery, decorative embellishment, collective and individual memory, zoomorphic motifs, mythological imagesAbstract
The article analyzes Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Galicia from the 18th to the first third of the 20th century, focusing on the characteristics of the forms and decorative embellishments of tombstones, known as matzevot. Special attention is given to the symbolism of the images, highlighting the most common plots and motifs. It is established that these images are usually associated with the symbolism of Messianic times, resurrection, and the «transference» to the Land of Israel. These include depictions of the leviathan, heraldic pairs of lions and unicorns, griffins, deer beside the tree of life. It is determined that one of the most widespread motifs in matzevot decoration is the deer, symbolizing beauty, nobility, grace, and the pursuit of comprehensive spiritual purity. The article also examines unique depictions on matzevot in Eastern Galicia, such as a fox or wolf with prey in its jaws, squirrels gnawing nuts, mythical horses, and more. It is demonstrated that tombstones in Jewish cemeteries of Eastern Galicia are not only unique monuments of visual and decorative art but also markers of identity and collective memory. Cemetery research provides an opportunity to study the history of a nation, its spiritual and material culture, the history of individual families, and individuals. Cemetery studies are focused on exploring collective and individual memory. The texts and images on matzevot serve as carriers of information that form a transcendent connection between generations of people. However, collective and individual memory is not a reflection of the past but rather the formation of a specific mythological system rooted in Jewish tradition, drawing from the texts of the Torah and Talmud, narratives, legends, belief in the ‘chosenness of the people,’ and memory of the ‘Land of Israel.’ The topoi of mythological stories about paradise, the promised land, suffering, and catastrophes, as well as heroic ancestors, find their reflection in the decoration of tombstones.
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