The Round Church was built outside Preslav's inner city, which mostly included the royal palace and its associated buildings such as the Royal Basilica.[37] It was still within the outer city limits, and lay in Preslav's southeastern part, some 250 metres (820 ft) from the South Gate of the inner city.[23] It was situated on a high terrace.[16][38] Today the Round Church, along with the other ruins of medieval Preslav, lie not far from the modern town of Veliki Preslav,[39] which is the administrative centre of a municipality in Shumen Province, northeastern Bulgaria.[40]
A drawing of the plan of a church with a wide courtyard, a rectangular narthex and a circular cella
Simplified floor plan
The Round Church differs markedly in appearance from the architecture of contemporary Byzantine churches,[41] as does every other church from this age in the Slavic-populated parts of the Balkans. It is most likely based on the abundant examples of late Roman or early Byzantine buildings that lay ruined in the Bulgarian lands. The layout, featuring a rotunda, particularly resembles churches from the time of Justinian I such as the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, the Little Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (today Istanbul),[18] and the Rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki.[41]
The design of the Round Church is unique in Bulgarian architecture of the time. The centralised, circular architecture is unique for medieval Bulgaria, and the rounded and dynamic nature of its shapes is in contrast with the sharp rectangular designs of that period.[25] Even if the plan is unusual and can be likened to early Byzantine ecclesiastical architecture, the technology and principles employed in its construction are contemporary to the 10th century and in accord with other monuments in Preslav.[42][43]
Byzantine churches are not the only source of inspiration that researchers attribute to the Round Church. Some scholars link its design to an Armenian influence,[44][45] perhaps brought to Bulgaria by craftsmen from the Caucasus. In general, churches with such an antiquated plan in the Balkans are associated with the migration of Cappadocian, Armenian, or Georgian monks. Another possible model for the Round Church in Preslav may well be found in Carolingian architecture from the time of Charlemagne, and particularly the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, western Germany, with which it shares some characteristics.[45][46][47] At the time of the Round Church's construction, Bulgaria was in direct contact with the Frankish Empire.[46] One trait of the Round Church that is claimed by scholars to be a very recognisable Carolingian influence is the presence of a monumental westwork.[48][49]Free Psychics hypnotherapy
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