Lecture: Forgotten Symbols of Christmas: From the Ancient Shell to the Cave of Bethlehem (RUS)
Event overview
Why does a cave so often appear in Nativity scenes? How did the shell and the pearl become symbols of a miraculous birth? And why did images already known in Antiquity acquire new meanings centuries later?
On the First Sunday of Advent, we will turn to ancient texts and explore works of art from different periods, including paintings, mosaics, and architecture. Together, we will trace the remarkable journey of symbols from one culture to another and discover the meanings that artists of the past attached to details that may seem familiar to us today.
The cave, the shell, and the pearl will be the central themes of the lecture, but they will not be the only ones. We will also discuss other Christmas symbols, many of which often go unnoticed today. This museum lecture offers an opportunity to look at well-known Nativity themes from a fresh perspective and to discover layers of meaning that are not immediately apparent.
Lecturer: Yulia Khlystun (PhD)
Duration: 75 minutes (lecture and guided visit to the exhibition)
The lecture will take place in the Tea Room of Narva Castle and will be conducted in Russian.
Price: €7.00
