Dalmatian hexaconchs

Dalmatinski šesterolisti predstavljaju poseban arhitektonski tip unutar korpusa hrvatske predromaničke arhitekture. Riječ je o desetak crkvica uglavnom memorijalnog karaktera ili funkcije oratorija čije podizanje se okvirno datira u razdoblje od 8. do 11. stoljeća. Grupirane su na području sjeverne Dalmacije, točnije u bizantskim gradovima na obali – Zadru, Splitu, Trogiru te u zaleđu Zadra i Splita, na području hrvatske države. Crkve su sačuvane u arheološkim ostacima koji najčešće sugeriraju njihovu tlocrtnu sliku te pokazuju srodne osobine: šest radijalno postavljenih polukružnih apsida uokolo kružne jezgre nad kojom se diže tambur s kupolom, gotovo jednake dimenzije te tehniku gradnje slaganjem priklesanih lomljenaca u nepravilne redove. Jedina gotovo posve sačuvana je crkva Sv. Trojice u Splitu te ona omogućuje rekonstrukciju izgleda ostalih. Oblik šesterolista nalikuje obliku nutrine ranokršćanske krstionice do katedrale u Zadru koja je zasigurno poslužila kao uzor u arhitektonskom oblikovanju šesterolista. Unatoč sličnostima, crkve se razlikuju u raščlambi vanjskog oplošja zida te funkciji. Unutrašnjost šesterolista koncipirana je jednostavno sa oltarnom pregradom visokog tipa u sredini crkve koja je dijelila tri istočne apside svetišta od tri zapadne apside. Ulomci kamenog liturgijskog namještaja pronađeni su kod gotovo svih šesterolista. Važnost kamene plastike velika je jer se na temelju njezine stilske analize crkve preciznije datiraju. O ovoj tipološkoj skupini pisali su brojni autori pa je ona detaljno istražena. Međutim, podrijetlo oblika, funkcija i preciznije datiranje heksakonhalnih građevina u Dalmaciji i dalje nije u potpunosti razriješeno.Dalmatian hexaconchs represent a special architectural type within the corpus of Croatian preRomanesque architecture. It is about a dozen churches mostly of a memorial character or an oratory function with estimated beginning of building roughly dated in the 8th to 11th century. They are grouped in Northern Dalmatia, more precisely in Byzantine towns on the coast - Zadar, Split, Trogir and in the hinterland of Zadar, in the area of Ravni kotari. The churches are preserved in archaeological remains that most often suggest their geographic image and show similar characteristics: six radially arranged semicircular apses around the circular core over which the tamboure rises with a dome, almost the same dimensions and construction technique by matching the cracked slabs into irregular rows. The only one completely preserved is the church of Holy Trinity in Split which allows reconstruction of other churches. The shape of the hexaconchs resembles the form of an early Christian baptistry of the Cathedral in Zadar and certainly served as an example in the architectural shaping of the hexaconchs. Despite the similarities, the churches differ in the analysis of the exterior and their purpose. The interior of the hexaconchs was conceived simply with a high altar septum in the center of the church which divided three eastern apses of the shrines from the three western apses. Fragments of liturgical stone furniture were found in almost all of the hexaconchs. The importance of stone bas-relief is great because on the basis of its stylistic analysis the churches can be dated more precisely. Numerous authors have written about this typology group so the group have been explored in detail. However, the origin of the shape, function and more precise dating of the hexaconchs structures in Dalmatia is still not fully resolved