"Culture is the last defense of a state and a society. The essential trace we leave in it determines our place, meaning and duration. In the civilized world, part of the culture is the book. The tradition of Oktoih, the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts maintains and continues with its latest editions", said the president of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, academician Dragan K. Vukcevic.
In 2021, the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU) celebrates its jubilee - 50 years since its foundation. As befits an institution of national importance, a special place in the activities marking this jubilee will be the publication of capital issues. Lexicons stand out among them. As CANU points out, they are a kind of contribution of the Academy to the idea of identity and continuity of culture and statehood of Montenegro.
Among several lexicons being worked on in CANU, four lexicons are being prepared for printing and will be published by the end of this year. That are: Lexicon of Fine Arts of Montenegro, Lexicon of Botany of Montenegro, Lexicon of Diplomacy of Montenegro i Lexicon of Montenegrin dynasties.
A complete picture of culture
It has long been pointed out that in a civilization based on the concept of knowledge storage, as is the case with our civilization, the lexicon (encyclopedia, catalog) becomes a key instrument of memory. Both globally and nationally. That is why lexicographic work, in any serious culture, is a job of the greatest importance.
U Lexicon of fine arts of Montenegro, of which he is the editor-in-chief Academician Niko Martinović, for the first time, the overall artistic culture of Montenegro from prehistory to modern times is presented. This comprehensive overview of the extraordinary artistic wealth is based on the experiences of generations of researchers, new knowledge and modern scientific approaches.
As CANU points out, the primary goal of the Lexicon is to integrally present the complex, heterogeneous artistic culture of Montenegro to the Montenegrin and European public. In addition to the traditional artistic disciplines - painting, sculpture and architecture, material from cultural history related to certain styles and stylistic epochs was processed. Elements from the wider cultural context are also presented: museums, galleries, academies, art associations, but also art magazines and periodicals.
Most of the Lexicon's lexicographical articles consist of brief biographies of fine artists, real estate architects, photographers, comic book authors, art historians and art critics. This corpus includes many foreigners, who have been present for centuries, as well as outsiders who, especially during the wave of national revivals from the second half of the XNUMXth century, achieved an enviable artistic reputation with works with a Montenegrin theme, such as the Czech painter Jaroslav Cermak whose work is inseparable from Montenegro and its history. There are also artists from Montenegro, whose work is embedded in the immanent values of the cultural heritage of other countries.
The wonderful world of plants
The idea of the Botanical Lexicon of Montenegro, of which he is the editor-in-chief Academician Vukić Pulević, is to present in an appropriate and concise form all the relevant knowledge about the plant world of Montenegro. In addition to botany and botanical disciplines, the lexicographic definitions included the history of botanical research in Montenegro, biographies of about 400 botanists, travelogues of botanists, agrobotany, mushrooms, floristic centers, national parks and reserves, botanical gardens, scientific and educational institutions, botanical literature. The history of the study of the flora of Montenegro lasts 200 years, and the bibliography of works created during that time numbers about 3.000 items. It was necessary to consolidate and systematize two centuries of data, which are a significant source of information about the botanical history of Montenegro.
The special importance of the Lexicon is reflected in the fact that a comprehensive compilation of largely scattered data represents a valuable source of information and a basis for defining appropriate guidelines and future similar projects of importance for the further development of botany.
Diplomatic continuity
Lexicon of Diplomacy of Montenegro, of which he is the editor-in-chief Academician Đorđije Borozan, was created with the aim of systematizing and unifying knowledge about the history of Montenegrin diplomacy, as well as knowledge about contemporary diplomacy in Montenegro, within one publication. Until now, we have not had a publication of this type, and countries in our region have not done such publications about their diplomacy.
The figures of Montenegrin diplomacy have found their place in the Lexicon, recommended by their role in foreign policy or the level of function they had in diplomacy. It also contains biographies of foreign rulers, high-ranking political figures and diplomats (if they maintained more intensive or significant contacts with Montenegro and its diplomacy). Determinants are dedicated to the external relations of Montenegro with other countries - both in the past and in the present time.
It is particularly significant that Montenegrin diplomacy is presented in its continuity in this Lexicon. For the first time, Montenegrin diplomacy is treated from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The lexical determinants used to present knowledge about Montenegro's international relations with the great powers are at the same time a historiographical reconstruction of the process of creation and international affirmation of the independent Montenegrin state. This Lexicon will also point out the share of Montenegro in Yugoslav diplomacy, where some of the most important figures and ambassadors at the most important world addresses were Montenegrin personnel (V. Mićunović, V. Popović and others). Some of the diplomats from Montenegro can be considered influential creators of its foreign policy. Diplomacy of Montenegro after the disappearance of the Yugoslav state, as well as diplomacy of independent Montenegro until 2020, will find its place in the Lexicon.
Four dynasties
Lexicon of Montenegrin dynasties
, of which he is the editor-in-chief prof. Dr. Živko Andrijašević, aims to systematize and unify knowledge about four Montenegrin dynasties: Vojislavljević, Balšić, Crnojević i Petrović Njegoš. In accordance with such definition, the Lexicon contains not only definitions of all rulers and members of ruling families, but also phenomena, events, places, buildings, titles, personalities significant for Montenegrin dynastic and overall history...
In addition to the definitions about the rulers of these four dynasties, as well as the members of the ruling families, the Lexicon also contains definitions about the personalities and ruling families with whom the Montenegrin ruling families entered into matrimonial relationships, then the rulers or presidents of the states with whom the Montenegrin dynasties maintained political ties , definitions of state and dynastic symbols, ruling capitals, ruling property, residences, monumental heritage, legal and political acts. Conceived as a set of facts and knowledge about rulers and ruling families, their time and heritage, the Lexicon also presents an overview of the personalized history of Montenegro and Montenegrin statehood.
Preparations for the Encyclopedia In addition to the aforementioned lexicons, the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts is currently working on Lexicon of ethnology of Montenegro, Lexicon of viticulture and winemaking of Montenegro, including Lexicon of the archeology of Montenegro. All of them represent a kind of preparation of the multi-volume Encyclopedia of Montenegro, a project that has been eagerly awaited for decades.
A total of 159 collaborators, prominent experts in the given fields, were engaged in writing lexicographic articles for four lexicons, of which 135 were from Montenegro, and 24 from the countries of the region.
The lexicon alphabets contain a total of 3.455 biographical and subject definitions. Specifically, the Alphabet Lexicon of fine arts of Montenegro contains 1.504 determinants, Lexicon of botany of Montenegro 1.042 determinants, Lexicon of Montenegrin dynasties 201 determinants and Lexicon of Diplomacy of Montenegro 708 determinants. More than 2.300 illustrations accompany the lexicographic articles. He gave the idea-visual concept of the publications prof. Nikola Latković, MSc. The main consultants in the creation of the lexicon were representatives of the Lexicographic Institute "Miroslav Krleža" from Zagreb.
Bonus video:
