Adam of Macedonia

At the beginning there was the Earth. And it turned into clay. Then it shaped into a figurine, the hands which created it – divined it, and gave it a name – Adam. A small ceramic figurine of a male torso, in a seated position, has been creating a real turmoil in the scientific community since a couple of years ago. This figurine was excavated at the turn of the millennium, from the archeological site of Govrlevo (Skopje, Macedonia). This figurine is dated to be some 6000 years old, and represents one of the most unique archeological finds in the world. It has received the epithet of a millennial find.

According to Milos Bilbija, the archeologist who excavated this miraculous figurine: “the maker’s inventiveness is strongly suggestive to the extent that the modern observer can easily recognize a 6000-year-old message in it”. At times it reminds of the famous sculpture by Rodin - The Thinker; however, Adam of Macedonia offers an unusually artistic craft in shaping this male torso in a seated position, with an accentuated anatomy, deeply redrawn belly, as if the figurine was trying to point at some kind of a diaphragmatic breathing, and there is even a broken phallus.

When you take a look at this figurine, you simply cannot remain indifferent to its contextual message. The incompletely preserved expression of a human male, caught in the moment of either diaphragmatic breathing is one of the most important foundation practices for meditation. When the diaphragm muscle contracts, it pulls the bottom of the lungs downward, causing them to fill, while the ribs flare outward to the sides. The chest and abdominal muscles are not used in diaphragmatic breathing. Conscious diaphragmatic breathing is extremely relaxing to the autonomic nervous system and is essential preparation for deep meditation.

Is it possible that at the time when the Great Mother’s cult was in full bloom in Macedonia, a unique and admirable object of such importance for our understanding of spirituality can be produced by the hands of those who apparently have marked the most curious epoch of human existence, that of the matriarchate. This in itself is a very untypical discovery for the period, since it is strange to see that the Great Mother Goddess, who could hear all the prayers of the people and could provide soothing to their troubles, would allow a precise depiction of the male spirituality to appear in the figurine of Adam, thus juxtaposing the representative elements of the culture as a whole. Could it be that there was a balance of sexes in Macedonia, way before one of them claimed dominance over the other?

At only a hand-distance from civilization, on the other side of the Vodno peak, down the silent slopes from behind Skopje, where only the symbols speak their taciturn tales, Adam of Govrlevo is trying to communicate a message, as old as time itself. In the history of Arts almost all figurines from prehistory are symbolic in nature and convey a kind of philosophical viewpoint of the culture that produced them.

Adam of Macedonia was created in an epoch where the words, as we know them, would have no meaning. Everyone would agree that the explanation for Adam’s existence is at hand; however, his enigma still remains intangible to many. For the time being, we have several conflicted viewpoints of professionals in the field of archeology. If we assume that with the accentuation of the anatomy, the prehistoric inhabitants of Macedonia would leave a more significant message through Time, then we may need to reconsider the spiritual dimension of human existence.

Have you ever tried to make a human-like figurine, which would depict your complete viewpoint and your personal experience of the world as such? You would probably notice that you need a lot of love, care and attention, as well as skills to perform such a miracle. This finding is of priceless value, and has already been registered as a monumental masterpiece with an explicitly realistic art form, and can be seen at the Museum of the City of Skopje.

translation by writer Perica Sardzovski

This post is reprint. It is also available in Macedonian.

Events - Krusevo "Ethno City"

Welcome to my country, a living ethnological land.A lot of customs are still preserved and practicing by natives within Macedonia cities, as the way like it was centuries ago. This is a BBC broadcasts report on Krusevo "Ethno City", promoting it as tourist destination. Every year this event includes about 800 participants, dressed in traditional costumes as insurgents and Turks paraded through the town in commemoration of the anniversary of the Ilinden uprising against Ottoman rule which took place in the city of Krusevo (in macedonian Крушево) in August of 1903. 

Macedonian Aqueduct, still unknown for scientist and travelers

The only Aqueduct in Republic of Macedonia (there were three aqueducts in ex-Yugoslavia) is located 2 km north-west of the city center of Skopje. One upon a time according to the notes of the traveler Evlija Chelebija (1669), the Skopje Aqueduct had 200, and now remain standing only 55 stone arches. In the disastrous earthquake which stroke Skopje in 1963, the Aqueduct was damaged and than restored and reconstructed.

According to one theory, this monument was built by the Romans, during the reign of the emperor Justinian I, who was born in the vicinity of Skopje, in a place called Tavresium. The other theory suggests it was constructed in 16th century, by the Ottoman Empire who conquered the whole Balkan (including Macedonia) and in the middle ages it provided water for public baths located now in the old part of Skopje.

 

Although the time of the origin is questionable, this archaeological site and magnificent cultural monument still seems like forgotten, both from the people and the Ministry of Culture. Undermined by the locals as a source of construction material and completely ruined, for decades this Aqueduct is sinking into the bogs by which it is surrounded. The pillars are filled with water and a large percentage of humidity, and there is a big possibility for permanent damage and demolition. In addition, probably the problem with the surrounding land is not yet solved, because I am not familiar whether the process of expropriation of the field which borders it has begun.

from my serial about Skopje Aqueduct (in Macedonian)

View more presentations from Vasilka Dimitrovska.

I was part of the event in 2007 when a famous ethno group Synthesis held a concert under the Aqueduct, as a contribution to its popularity. This monument is one of the hundred cultural sites which are completely abandoned and forgotten. It has never been scientifically studied and it has never been published (except in the travel catalogues). This Aqueduct is a true example of how we take care of our cultural and historical heritage in Macedonia, besides its location in the heart of the capital Skopje.