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Donarium – votive object
"I, Zenovius, have offered this gift."
Behind you, in the square, there stands a commemorative monument containing a replica of the "Biertan Donarium." The story of this object begins with a discovery made by a local Saxon of Biertan about 250 years ago. The local found a small ancient relic beneath an old oak tree felled by a storm. Experts date this artifact back to the 4th century AD.
This bronze item is a written tablet about 30 by 13 centimeters in size, connected by a link to a circular medallion featuring the monogram of Christ. It is thought by some historians to attest to the presence of Christian worship among the Daco-Roman population of the region. Others argue that the object may have been made in northern Italy and lost or traded by the Goths who passed through the area. In any case, the name of the donor — Zenovius — has oriental origins, making the puzzle even more complex.
The artifact was discovered in 1775, about 6 kilometers from where you are now. The discovery site is located on the Valea Copșei Mari, near a now depopulated village once known as "La Chinedru," which is not found on modern maps but still remembered by locals. If you're bold enough to make the trip, you'll find a recently crafted oak wood sculpture by local artist Ion Constantinescu, which you can admire while listening to the sound of the wind and the nearby cowbells from a local farm.
To understand the significance of this votive object, let's examine it together. On the bronze tablet, three parallel lines of Latin text read: "EGO ZENO/VIUS VOT/UM POSUI," which translates as "I, Zenovius, have offered this gift." Hanging below is a "Chi-Rho" disc or the monogram of Jesus, indicating that this plaque was part of a religious object donated by Zenovius to a Christian place of worship. Was it part of a chandelier? Perhaps a baptismal font? We can't know for sure.
After its discovery, the artifact came into the possession of the local mayor, who handed it over to Baron Samuel von Brukenthal. Over time, this item, classified as a treasure of the highest importance, found its way to the National Museum of Romanian History, where in 2011 it was given the official title: "The Biertan Donarium."
Though it may seem like an easily overlooked object here in the village square, the Donarium is actually a global rarity. What a treasure!
Text by Ana-Maria Stanciu and Andrei Tache, documented and written during the Heritage Lab workshop in 2024. Audio guide created by Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association and the Biertan Town Hall, as part of the Culture & Cultures project, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
Tur audio realizat în cadrul proiectului Culture&Cultures. Connecting the dots în anul 2024.
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Proiectul nu reprezintă în mod necesar poziția Administrației Fondului Cultural Național. AFCN nu este responsabilă de conținutul proiectului sau de modul în care rezultatele proiectului pot fi folosite. Acestea sunt în întregime responsabilitatea beneficiarului finanțării.
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