Achsnagel mit Eulenkopf

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Description

Two lynchpins from Manching remain of a magnificent two-wheeled chariot. Depicted are the heads of owls, i.e. of birds of prey active during the night. The bronze heads were cast on to the iron pins. On the forehead of a head are red enamel inlays. Depictions of birds of prey first appeared on brooches of the early La Tène period (fifth century BC); they were particularly numerous on Celtic coins of the second to the first centuries BC. Birds of prey can be connected to Celtic death ceremonies, during which the dead or parts of the corpse was offered as food to wild beasts.

Author

Archäologische Staatssammlung München

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC-SA 4.0