Analysis of Medieval Rotundas in the Former Kingdom of Hungary Considering Central European Corresponding Monuments

Abstract

In Central Europe, medieval rotundas are found in great numbers, with the subject strongly connected to the spread of Christianity amongst peoples living in the area. The aesthetics of pagan religions is still present, but they adapted to Christian functions. Thus, on the border of Eastern and Western Christianity, a new design was created.
This study introduces the features of round churches in the former Kingdom of Hungary from the 10th to 14th century and places them in the context of the Central European rotundas.
To examine the buildings, we considered aspects such as location, periods of construction, possible layout variations, functions and patron saints. The database we created regarding the rotundas in Central Europe was the foundation for the investigations. Using this analysis, the goal is to find underlying patterns, identify different groups of rotundas and provide an overview of the monuments, which could be used for further investigations in the topic.