The next stop was Split—another—must visit—must see—must add to the bucket list —the cry of the tour group went up as the coach approached!
On our arrival in Split, a most eloquent and ‘fact-friendly’ guide took us around. We trekked through the searing heat from magnificent building to magnificent building. Here is what we saw.
Diocletian’s Palace
Diocletian was a Roman emperor who ruled from 284 to 305 AD, and let’s just say, he really knew how to throw some order into the chaos! After chaos in the 3rd century, he strutted in like a superhero ready to save the day—cape not included. He appeared on the scene to revamp the empire’s finances, administration, and military This makeover didn’t just help the old West, but it laid the groundwork for what would later become the fancy Byzantine Empire in the East—a good legacy! His reign also included the last major persecution of Christians. All in all, Diocletian certainly kept things interesting!
Diocletian had many enemies. Little is known of his origins. His father was a scribe or the emancipated slave of a senator called Anullinus. Nothing is known of his wife, Prisca, other than what the contemporary Latin Christian writer Lactantius Firmianus says in his De mortibus persecutorum, which is may be taken with a pinch of salt.
Diocles, having adopted the name Diocletianus, entered history like so many of those emperors who emerged from the shadows through force of arms, brought to power by the army. What is known of his appearance is based on coin effigies and on sculptures. He was tall and thin, with a prominent forehead, a short, strong nose, a hard mouth, and a determined chin.
You can read about how he came to power in the following link. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palace-of-Diocletian
The Cellars of Diocletian’s Palace— the ‘basement halls’, are substructures located at the southern end of the palace that once held up the private apartments of the emperor.
Cathedral of Saint Domnius
The Cathedral of Saint Domnius consecrated at the turn of the 7th century AD, is regarded as the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world that remains in use in its original structure, without near-complete renovation at a later date (though the bell tower dates from the 12th century). The structure itself, built in AD 305 as the Mausoleum of Diocletian, is the second oldest structure used by any Christian Cathedral.
Gregory of Nin
Gregory of Nin was a bishop in the medieval Croatian capital of Nin, and let’s just say he was pretty tired of the Church’s Latin-only rule. Imagine going to church and understanding less than you would at a cat’s meow competition! In 926, Gregory decided it was high time to give the sermons a makeover and suggested using the national language instead. He thought, Hey, maybe if folks can actually understand the service, they won’t just be nodding along like confused sheep!’
But the Church in Rome was having none of it. They were like, ‘Nope! Latin is the holy language!’ It’s almost as if they thought that a little mystery would keep worshippers on their toes—after all, who doesn’t love a good riddle while trying to connect with the divine? So, there you have it: Gregory, the language pioneer, and the Church digging its heels in like a stubborn mule, determined to keep the sermons sounding like ancient spellcasting!
Gregory has become quite the celebrity among Croatians, earning the title of the ultimate defender of Croatian culture, language, and statehood. Statues of him are popping up all over the Balkans. The standout, however, is the one below, where his statue towers over everyone at a whopping 8.5 meters.
