Features of Geometric, Plant and Zoomorphic Ornament in the Artistic Practices of Masters of Kiev Russian

Abstract

Purpose of the article is to identify the features of ornamentation during the times of Kyivan Rus and to characterize the specifics of the influences of pre-Christian, Byzantine, and European culture on the development of geometric, floral, and zoomorphic ornament. The research methodology consists of using such methods as: analysis and synthesis, historical-retrospective, comparative-historical, and theoretical generalization. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the fact that it examines geometric, plant and zoomorphic decoration as three main themes of ancient Russian ornament of the 9th-13th centuries. Conclusions. It is emphasized that the ornamentation of Kievan Rus reflects a significant layer of information about the worldview, the level of cultural development and intercultural interactions and many other aspects of the life of the ancient Rusyns. It is found that the cosmological interpretation of the ornamentation of the times of Kievan Rus as an expression of "timeless wisdom" associated with true Being continues to this day. The study revealed that geometric ornament was associated with religious concepts, in particular certain worldviews and philosophical doctrines that spread in the pre-Christian world and after the baptism of Rus under the influence of Byzantine culture. If in the pre-Christian period the most common were solar symbols, graphemes based on them and/or using many circles (the most popular is the grouping of several circles into a triple triangular configuration), as well as rhombic, wavy or snake-like, rosette and cross-shaped signs, then from the 10th century. they are complemented by squares, equilateral triangles and rhombuses with angles of 60° and 120°. At the same time, the ornaments are not based on segmental geometry and simple polygonal figures, but use round shapes, usually intertwined and decorated with floral forms. Plant motifs are significantly influenced by Western European ornamental techniques: the plant-lily-shaped ornament is widespread, the ornamental elements of which are flowers, leaves, petals and shoots of lilies. It is emphasized that the masters of Kyivan Rus developed original ornaments based on the ascending motif, as a result of artistic borrowing and adaptation. It is found that in the artistic design of works of art, from jewelry and weapons to ceramics and carvings, along with geometric and plant motifs, zoomorphic signs were usually used, the development of which is associated with the Scandinavian styles of Elling and Borre.