Forgotten Christmas Symbols: From the Ancient Seashell to the Cave of Bethlehem (RUS)

Why is the Nativity so often depicted in a cave? How did the seashell and the pearl become symbols of the miraculous birth? And why did motifs already known in antiquity acquire new meanings centuries later? On the First Sunday of Advent, we will turn to ancient texts and examine works of art, mosaics, and architecture from different periods. We will trace the fascinating journey of these motifs from one culture to another and learn what meanings artists of the past gave to details familiar to us. The cave, seashell, and pearl are the main subjects of this talk, but we will also discuss other Christmas symbols that we often no longer notice today. This museum lecture will help you look at familiar scenes from a new perspective and see much more in them than is apparent at first glance. Lecturer: Yuliia Khlystun (PhD). Duration: 75 minutes (lecture and exhibition visit). The lecture will be held in Russian in the Café Room of Narva Castle. Price: 7 euros.