Some themes in anthropomorphic and zoomorphic stone sculpture of the Mountainous Dagestan

Abstract

Actuality of the article is caused by the fact that the sculptural representations of men and animals that are inserted in the walls of the structures of different function (houses, bridges, mosques) from the traditional villages of the Mountainous Dagestan are published for the first time. The aim of the research is to understand the meaning of the images in the traditional everyday life. In course of the research methods of comparative historical and typological analyze are used. Artistic cultural context of the representations is revealed. The roots of the sculptural representations re shown. Similar representations (human and animal heads) can be seen on the medieval Christian churches of Caucasus. They are also present in architectural decoration of earlier periods up to the Hellenistic culture. In case of animal heads it can be traced back to the neolithic period. To conclude it is possible to confirm that the representations were used as protective signs (apotropaios).