The 2010 winter solstice unfurled yesterday and, for the first time in 456 years, there was a also a Moon eclipse. I thought that a fitting way to mark this rare astronomical concomitance would be by posting an architectural image that brings together the Moon and the Sun. The coat of arms of the old Principality of Wallachia (as well as that of the Principality of Moldova) features a full radiant Sun and a Moon crescent, both often endowed with figurative human faces, flanking an eagle. I found a good representation of this coat of arms on the votive inscription dating from the first part of the c17th, presented above, which embellished the New St Georges’ Church in Bucharest. The lettering of the inscription is in the Cyrillic alphabet used for rendering the Romanian language until the mid-c19th.
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I endeavor through this daily series of daily articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.
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If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing the property, specialist research, planning permissions, restoration project management, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 