ROUND MEDALLION WITH AN ARCHANGEL
The Round Church in Veliki Preslav, Shumen Province
End of 9th – 10th c.

The medallion represents the image of an archangel in a solemn, frontal pose, with large, open eyes and an oval face. The hair is short with large curls. The archangel is wearing imperial attire decorated with a border of pearls. The wings are visible behind his shoulders. Similar in size medallions were used in the decoration of small iconostases in private houses, as inlays of various church furniture, or to be worn as pendants on a chain. It was discovered in a workshop for painted pottery in the Round Church during archaeological excavations in 1943.

Bibliography:

Господинов 1946: Ю. Господинов. Нови находки в Преслав. – Известия на Българския археологически институт, XV, 1946, 82-85.

Горянова и др. 2019: С. Горянова, Г. Грозданова (съст. и ред.). До портите на княжеския двор. Съкровища от Велики Преслав. Каталози, том XV. София, 2019.

Мавродинов 1959: Н. Мавродинов. Старобългарското изкуство. София, 1959.

Тотев 1992: Т. Тотев. Наблюдения върху рисуваната керамика на манастира около Кръглата (Златната) църква в Преслав. – В: Р. Рашев (ред.). Плиска-Преслав, 5, 1992, 252-253.

Tотев 2001: Т. Тотев. Керамичната икона в средновековна България. София, 2001.