Once in a while everything comes together through a happy circumstance of asking the right question in the right place, noting a particular image and having the knowledge to put it all together. I had such an "aha!" moment at a rock-cut-church in the valley--a possible solution to a problem of iconography for the south-east apse of Meryamana. We cut short our field day and re-grouped in my room to gather measurements taken over the previous two seasons. One difficulty is that 98% of the apse in question no longer exists, having long ago fallen into the ravine. A small fresco fragment clings to the remaining curve, confirming that the apse originally contained a depiction of the Archangel Michael. A greater problem, and one that has vexed me for two years, was the identification of the saint depcited with him. Beneath the Archangel's bit of halo, naming inscription and bit of wing is a small portion of a second halo. A scene in a second rock-cut-church offered a possible identity for the second figure--but would he fit into the space?
Stephanie, Brad, Sarah and Chris estimated size from images taken two years ago, traced images off of the computer, adjusted the scale and set about constructing the missing apse. We have limited space, so the best place to recreate the apse was around my bathroom door. Using string darkened with a black Sharpie, tracing paper and the set of measurements they created a mock two-dimensional apse, setting the figures in their relative places. The room is constructed of blocks of tufa and tape will not stick to the walls. Necessity is the mother of invention: we chewed a lot of gum, wadded it up, embedded the string in the gum, pressed the gum onto the wall and voila! An apse.
And yes, the figures fit, allowing me to extend my interpretation of the southern section of Meryamana. The pieces clicked into place and I cannot yet think of any contraindications.
Unfortunately we do not have pictures of Stephanie being 'mother'--holding out her open hand for our well-chewed gum--or of Chris having to take his back and keep chewing, just in case we needed a bit more. They kept their squeamishness (mostly) hidden, focusing on the task at hand. I've left the 'apse' up--to the puzzlement of the cleaning ladies--and ponder it daily.
