bavarikon4UDescription
Magnificent appear these golden branches of oak forming a wreath and intertwined with bell flowers, grapes, bees and five erotes. A unique masterpiece from the 4th century BC.
On August 2, 1814, the gold wreath was discovered during excavations in the area of the ancient city of Grumentum, now Armento in southern Italy. It was found in a tomb together with several silver vessels on an iron rack, beneath which the ashes of the funeral pyre were scattered. The piece was originally part of the collection of Napoleon’s youngest sister Caronline Murat, the Queen of Naples, before it came into the possession of Bavarian King Ludwig I (r. 1825-1848) in 1826.
In the center a winged goddess possibly is presenting Iris, the messanger of the gods, or a nameless winged goddess who guides the dead into the underworld. It is most likely the goddess of victory, Nike.
A notable and unique feature of the wreath is the inscription on the base of the large goddess. It translates as: "Kreithonios gave the gold for this wreath". The donor of the wreath was trying to secure his reputation amongst the gods of the underworld and show that he was a pious man who paid his final respects to the dead.
Funerary wreaths were a common form of burial decoration, especially in southern Italy. However, most of them are far less ornate and elaborate than this one from Armento. Its function – like that of the other grave goods – was to ensure the person’s continuing existence in the afterlife.