Classification Paragraph. Odnosum Victoria

Images of the dragons in the churches of Kievan Rus can be found in the cathedral of Saint Boris and Saint Glib in Chernihiv, in the Assumption Cathedral in Krylos, Halych region, and in the Cathedral of Saint George in Yuryev-Polsky, that now is Russian city in Vladimir region. Accordingly to their geographical positions these images belong to three different schools of stone carving: Chernihiv, Halych and Vladimir-Suzdal. All of three have one similarity that is the picture of a vegetative ornament which is concerned to be a remainder of pagan times. But all the images of dragons can be distinguished by the representation and the significance. The first dragon in Chernihiv is depicted with a dog’s head as a blazon of Chernihiv knyaz family[1]. The second one has a head of a crocodile and was destined to protect the Assumption Cathedral[2]. And the last one with the wolf’s head was demonized, that is why it was symbolizing heterodox enemy[3].  

To sum up, the image of dragon in the churches of Kievan Rus were depicted in different ways and had different meanings according to the schools

---

[1] Vagner G. The sculpture of Ancient Rus. XII c. Vladimir. Boholubovo. – Moscow: Art, 1969. – p. 276.

 Bohusevych V. The image of simargl in the art of Ancient Rus. – Archeology. – V. XII. – Kyiv, 1961.- p. 82 – 83.

[2] Vuycik V. New memorial of white-stone carving in Ancient Rus. - http://www.icon-art.info/book_contents.php?book_id=86

[3] Vagner G. Studying the relief of the Cathedral of Saint George in Yuryev-Polsky. – Soviet archeology. – 1960. - № 1. – p. 103.