Simboluri și sculptură. Porțile maramureșene vechi

Abstract

The cult of globalization from these days could be easily resisted or even forgotten once you find the carved wooden portals on the lands of Maramureș. There, the cultural tradition of the picturesque villages from our country’s distant past remains immaculate and at the same time conveys freshness to the Romanian art history and sculpture. From the beauty and artistry of these ornate gates, one could get the impression that the carved symbols were created for esthetic purposes only, if their significance were unclear. Nevertheless, like the painted churches in Bukovina where one could view or decipher the Bible by looking at the paintings in a certain order, the portals in Maramureș accurately convey a visual record of local people’s beliefs and traditions throughout history. We know that these gates date back to pre-Christian times, but they are still being crafted by local craftsmen today. To what degree has Christianity influenced the evolution of the Maramureș portals’ symbolism?