Mirila

Virtualni muzej

Topography

Opuvani Dolac (Sirotkovići)

The route from the center of Starigrad led through the settlement of Brđani (A. Stepinec Street) and further through Uzpočivalo to Opuvani Dolac between the peaks of Mali and Veliki Vitrenik.

The site is located on both sides of two routes up to the settlements at Vitrenik. The mirilo tombstones of the northern branch belonged to the families of the hamlets of Zavitrenik (Bušljete), Koin Dolac (Donji Ercezi), Šimiždrići - Milovci, Dolac Vučić - Županov (Gornji Ercezi), and Mali Vaganac (Bušljete), while the mirilo tombstones of the eastern branch belonged to the families of the hamlets of Bristovac (Tomići) and Njive Došenove (Ramići and Jusupi). In 1979, a total of 96 mirilo stones were documented, including damaged ones (to the present a further dozen well-decorated headstones have disappeared), most of them of the arched-rounded type, while a smaller number were square or amorphous. They were oriented west-east and northsouth. The site was characterized by an interesting iconography of prominent decoration of already known symbols that are perhaps forgott en, but not lost. To the contrary, the increased decorativeness of the basic motifs more strongly emphasizes the mystic nature of the mirilo tombstones. The most common motif of this type is the sun disc, ranging from the most simple to the highly decorative “petal” type. They were created by a skillful and imaginative craft sman with a well developed sense for composition.

Other decorations that appear in somewhat small amounts include a spiral with a decorative cross and a stylized rosett e. Inscriptions are not usual, and were noted on three headstones. One has the date of death, the last and fi rst names, without the date of birth.

  • 1908. RAMIĆ GRGO