Goldfläschchen - Zeichen der Sonne

Description

The vial, two larger bowls and two small cups made of gold come from an group of finds from the Heroldingen area. The objects were illegally excavated and entered the museum by way of the international art market. Matching imprints on the vessels prove that they were once stacked inside one another. The vessels are decorated with circles and rays, a symbolism which in conjunction with the colour of gold refers to the Bronze Age solar cult. The special material identifies the vessels as ritual objects. As can be deduced from the composition of comparative finds that were properly excavated, the golden cups, vials and bowls served as scoops, dispensers or drinking vessels. Metal vials are very rare during the Bronze Age, but nonetheless distributed widely, from Hungary to Eastern France. These special receptacles certainly stored precious substances such as fragrant oils. In the first millennium B.C., small vials made from pottery, metal and later also from glass were found throughout the Mediterranean region, indicating an extensive production of essential substances such as oils.