Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 9.djvu/435

ON THE BRONZE DOORS OF THE CATHEDRAL OF ONESEN. '6M ON THE BEONZE DOORS OF THE CATHEDRAL OF GNESEN. (Continv£d from page 226.) No inscriptions are to be found upon these doors, and the time and place when and where they were cast nuist there- fore be determined either by historical evidence or by comparison of their style and character with those of other works of art whose origin is better ascertained. From the former of these sources it would appear that but little that is trustworthy can be gathered. The only old writer who is cited as mentioning these gates is Michael Litwin (/. c, the Lithuanian,) who says (" De Moribus Tartarorura," p. 3), that Boleslaus Chrobry took from Kiev, in 1008, a " valva " which the Russians had brought from Kherson, and presented it to Gnesen. None of the older annalists mention this circum- stance, although they give many 'details^ respecting the campaigns of Boleslaus in Russia and the taking of Kiev ; it will, however, be proper to notice the conjectures which later native waiters have formed as to the origin of these doors. With the patriotic spirit so characteristic of the Poles, they have been willing to see in them memorials of the glorious deeds of Boleslaus ; and Naruszewicz (" Historya Narodu Polskiego," Vol. I.), and Raczynski (" Wspomnienia Wielko- polski," Vol. IL, p. 323), attest the existence at Gnesen of the tradition that they are trophies of the taking of Kiev, The same story will also be found in some of the older topo- graphical accounts of Poland.'^ The circumstance that the subjects are taken from the life of St. Adalbert has been always felt to be a most serious objection to the correctness of this tradition ; and Siemienski (Monumenta Eccl. ]Ietro. Gnesnensis), argues that the fact is otherwise; but the close correspondence of the reliefs with the history of the L saint can leave no doubt but that he is in error. The 1 As in" Sarmatite Europec Descriptio," mark the limits of his conquests. (" Stan, by Guagnini. (Spires, 1581.) Sarnicii Annales.") Dlugosz says that 2 Some of a very poetical character ; as Boleslaus cleft the golden gate at Kiev that Boleslaus fixed, in the bed of the Dnie- with a miraculous sword given to him by per, brazen tubes so artificially contrived an angel. Kadbubek tells the same story that they continually sounded his name. somewhat differently. He is said to have set up iron columns to