Židovski trg (pronounced "She·doughs·key terg") or Jewish square is the smallest square in Maribor located in the former Jewish ghetto (Židovska četrt). Jews came to Maribor from German lands and were successful bankers, millers and winegrowers. Due to a doctrine issued by the Pope Innocent III in 1215, Jews had to live in so called ghettos (special quarters) to be separated from the Christians. The ghetto in Maribor was located near the southeastern part of the wall, close to the river Drava. The area is almost completely intact today: You can see the Maribor Synagogue and the Jewish tower. Although Pope's doctrine tried to separate Jews and Christians, those rules weren't so strictly implemented in Maribor, a lot of times Jews were living in Christian areas and Christians in the Jewish ghetto. Jews were banned from serving a public office and they had to wear special identifying markings on their clothes. They also had to pay some extra taxes to the duke. On the other hand, they enjoyed a special protection: Killing a Jew was punished severer than killing a Christian. According to sources, in the year 1410 about 25% of the population was Jewish, which was the height of their presence in Maribor. Unfortunately they were expelled from from Maribor by a decree issued by the Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I in 1497, which marked the end of the Jewish life in Maribor. However, the influence is still felt today.
See some photos of the Jewish square:
If you visit Maribor's Jewish square, you will see these historically important buildings:
1 The Jewish tower (Židovski stolp)
2 Maribor synagogue (Mariborska sinagoga)
No comments:
Post a Comment