The Golden Altars: Their Historical and Architectural Background

The golden images testify to familiarity with the pan-European ecclesiastical art and its forms and symbols. They also reflect the social structure and economic<br/>surplus of society, which enabled its elite to invest in such magnificent and high-quality furnishings. This chapter provides an introduction to the historical background and architectural context of the golden images, the Christianisation process and the extensive church building, which created new spaces for Christian worship and a need for new decorations and furnishings. It ends with a short section on the history of the research that has been undertaken prior<br/>to the publication of this work.