EARLY MEDIEVAL GEORGIAN BASILICAS WITH CRUCIFORM PIERS: A RECONSIDERATION OF F. W. DEICHMANN’S OPINIONS

AKAKI SKHVITARIDZE; MAIA DZIDZIGURI

AKAKI SKHVITARIDZE Ph.D. student in the doctoral program ‘Architectural Sduties’ Faculty of Architecture, urban planning and design, Georgian Technical University 77, Kostava Str., Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia http://orcid.org/0009-0002-8325-3195
MAIA DZIDZIGURI Ph.D. Professor at Georgian Technical University, Faculty of architecture, urban planning and design 77, Kostava Str., Tbilisi, 0175, Georgia http://orcid.org/0009-0004-6642-3601

Abstract

The present study examines one of the key issues of Early Christian architecture - genesis of concept of basilica with cruciform piers, in eastern Georgia. The novelty of the research lies in the fact that, in Georgian basilicas, the cruciform piers is interpreted not as an accidental architectural borrowing, but as a structurally distinct type that developed locally. The aim of the study is to reassess and revise the concept formulated by German art historian F. W. Deichmann in the second half of the twentieth century, based on contemporary archaeological and architectural data. The results demonstrate that the number of basilicas with cruciform piers in eastern Georgia reaches fourteen, which significantly exceeds the known parallels in different regions of middle east. At the same time, the earliest examples - the basilicas of Bolnisi and Dolochopi - should be dated to the beginning of the fifth century. The concluding analysis confirms that Bolnisi Sioni should still be regarded as the first firmly established example of a basilica with cruciform piers, despite new discoveries. Thus, the study substantially reinforces Deichmann’s main positions, while correcting them in terms of chronological and regional specificity.

Keywords: Basilica; Pier; Late antique; cruciform