This slab were particularly intrigued me, since
the type of stone on which it's made, not originating in the Valleys of
Natisone. Observing its compactness and the whitish-gray color, is the typical Istrian stone, very common in the Venice's buildings. The inscription at the top "Matia Postar (or Postak?)" reveals that this stone was certainly used as a "tombstone." As to the date shown in the middle, even if partially missing, it is surely the year 1542. At first appearance seemed to be a stone with the name of the deceased on the date of death. Looking better but, I noticed that the two engraves are little different, that have not been made with the same technique and with the same "hand". The date and the cross had been made more deeper than the name and the smallest cross on the right. This makes me assume that the date 1542 is certainly the oldest and the stone, at a later, has been reused. Consider the difficult to found these kind of slabs, I think the recycled was a widespread practice in the ancient cemeteries. The strange thing is that there are no cemeteries in neighborhood, so I can suppose the slab has been removed from a cemetery far away, or that in the area long ago, there was one. (it would be nice to be able to take a look to the back of the stone, but it's to heavy). |