Photos

Great history of Bosna i Hercegovina

This Stećak (=stele) from Canton Sarajevo is fascinating: the writing on top is in the Bosančica alphabeth. To the right you find the symbol of the moon, but no cross. The stele dates from the 11th-15th century where the Bogumilic religion (christians) dominated Bosnia, much to the chagrin of the Catholics to the west and the Orthodox east of Bosnia which considered the Bogumils as heretics. I presume that the Bogumilic religion had more to do with an independent minded people than with theological fine points, it must have been a regiopolitical sect. When the Ottoman empire took hold in Bosnia in 1527 the adherents had to worship secretly or abandon the Bogumilic traditions.

As a Swiss I am much interested to know how other small nations kept their independence, morale and culture over centuries alive under the constant threat of neigbouring bullies. I admire today's courage and drive of the Bosnians to rebuild their state.

The picture was taken in the court yard of the National Museum in Sarajevo