Hilarri
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Hilarri ( Basque : hil = "death" and harri = "stone") is the Basque name for a usually artistically two-part, upright and disc-shaped grave stele in the upper area ( French stèle discoïdale ; Spanish estela discoidal )
Dating
Only a few of the older - and almost always nameless - steles bear a year; the oldest dated stelae are from the 16th and 17th centuries. However, it must be assumed that some of the stelae are several centuries older and originated in the high Middle Ages .
construction
The grave steles are always made of a single stone, but usually consist of two parts - a trapezoidal base and a round disc top. Only in a few cases are both parts - including the substructure - ornamented; openwork specimens are not known.
orientation
In the past, the steles set up at the head of the grave and only ornamented on one side all seem to face east, i.e. H. to have been oriented towards the rising sun. However, since most of the grave stelae are no longer at their original location, the overall situation is unclear.
Ornaments
Basically, it should be noted that none of the older grave steles are decorated with figurative or vegetable motifs. In contrast, the older steles show some - often repetitive - abstract ornaments, all of which are made as a bas-relief :
- Crosses - often in the shape of the paw cross ; complicated and compound cross shapes are common, simple straight crosses are rather rare.
- Swastika crosses or wheels - always in the shape of the Lauburu (Basque: "four heads"), a left or right-turning leaf cross. In rare cases, six or eight leaves or heads are possible.
- Leaf rosettes - usually with six leaves
- Spoked wheels - usually with six spokes
- Zigzag or ray pattern - as a border for the central motif
- concentric circles; Spiral motifs, on the other hand, do not appear
symbolism
The symbolism of the stelae that may have originally existed can hardly be determined. In their silhouette (trapezoidal substructure and round top) they are vaguely reminiscent of a human body with torso and head. However, many researchers associate the circular disc, which is often framed by a jagged ring, with the sun.
However, it must be pointed out that in ancient floor mosaics - with the exception of a few cross shapes - it is not uncommon to find similar motifs. From this one could conclude that the symbolism of the individual forms did not exist (any longer), but that the focus was on the desire for abstract, decorative jewelry.
The eastward orientation of the graves and the stelae, i.e. in the direction of the rising sun, could be related to the ancient idea of rebirth or resurrection .
Others
The existence of a few rectangular steles should not go unmentioned. In addition, it should be mentioned that similar - unopened - grave stelae can be found in other areas of southwest Europe (e.g. in Baraigne or in La Couvertoirade , southern France, or in Bordejé near Coscurita , northern Spain).
gallery
Jatxou (1596?)
(Place and age unknown)
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literature
- Michel Duvert: Contribution à l'étude de la stèle discoïdale basque , Association Lauburu, Bulletin du Musée Basque n ° 49 & 50, 1976
- Jon Etcheverry-Ainchart, Michel Duvert, Marcel Etchehandy, Claude Labat: Les stèles discoïdales et l'art funéraire basque. Lauburu-Ed. Elkar. 2004 ISBN 978-2-913-15655-5
Web links
- Grave steles in the Cathar region - sketches + text (French)
- Basque funeral customs (French)
- Symbolism of the Basque grave stelae (French)
- Website of the organization Lauburu (French)
- Grave steles from Doazit - sketches + text (French)