Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T20:36:09.906Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An interpretation of the Nebra disc

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Emília Pásztor  and
Curt Roslund
Emília Pásztor
Affiliation:
Matrica Museum, HU-2440 Szazhalombatta, Hungary (Email: pasztore@enternet.hu)
Curt Roslund
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, Gothenburg University, SE-41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

The Nebra disc is one of the most sensational European discoveries of the decade. It appears to carry symbols of the sun, moon and stars wrought in gold on a flat bronze disc just over a foot across (320mm). It is not only very strange, but, famously, appears to be winking, initially raising the suspicion that it may be a hoax. Scholars have, however, claimed it firmly for the Bronze Age, and the debate now moves to the matter of its meaning. Here the authors offer a subtle interpretation that sees it as the shamanistic device of a local warrior society.

Keywords

EuropeBronze AgeGermanySachsen-AnhaltNebrashieldreligionshaman
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 81 , Issue 312 , 1 June 2007 , pp. 267 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

J.A, Black. & Green, A.. 1992. Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia. London: British Museum Publications.Google Scholar
British Archaeology 79, November 16-7, 2004. V.D, Chamberlain. 1982. When Stars came down to Earth. Los Altos: Ballena Press.Google Scholar
Coles, J. 1962. European Bronze Age shields. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 28: 156–90.Google Scholar
Collon, D. 1990. Near Eastern Seals. London: British Museum Publications.Google Scholar
Davidson, H.R.E. 1988. Myths and symbols in pagan Europe. New York: Syracuse University Press.Google Scholar
Frank, M.R. & Bengoa, J.A.. 2001. Hunting the European sky-bears: on the origin of the non-zodiacal constellation, in Ruggles, C., Prendergast, F. & Ray, T.. (ed.) Astronomy, Cosmology and Landscape: 15–44. Leicester: Ocarina Books.Google Scholar
Green, M. 1993. The sun gods of ancient Europe, in Singh, M. (ed.) The sun, symbols of power and life: 295–311. New York: Harry N. Abrams.Google Scholar
Goodison, L. 1989. Death, women and the sun. Symbolism of regeneration in early Aegean religion. Bulletin of Institute of Classical Studies Suppl. 53.Google Scholar
Homer, (transl. A.T. Murray). 1925. The Iliad. London: William Heinemann.Google Scholar
Ivanov, S.V. 1954. Materialy po izobrazitelnomu iskustvu narodov Sibiri XIX - nachala XX. veka. Trudy Instituta etnographii. XXII. Moscow/Leningrad: Academia Nauk SSSR.Google Scholar
Jankovics, M. 1984. Cosmic Models and Siberian Shaman Drums, in Hoppál, M. (ed.) Shamanism in Eurasia: 1–2. Göttingen: Herodot.Google Scholar
Jensen, J. 1999. The heroes: Life and Death, in Gods and heroes of Europe: 88–97. Strasbourg: Europarat.Google Scholar
Kaul, F. 1998. Ships on bronze. Studies in Archaeology and History 3. Coppenhagen: PNM.Google Scholar
Kaul, F. 2004. Der Sonnenwagen von Trundholm, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 54–7. Stuttgart: Theiss.Google Scholar
Kaul, F. 2005. Bronzealderens billedverden, in Kaul, F., Stoltze, M. & Nielsen, F.O. (ed.) Milstreu: Helleristninger: 45–68. Rønne: Bornholms Museum.Google Scholar
Koós, J. 1988. Bronzezeitliches Anhängsel von Nagyrozvágy. Homé 25–6: 69–80.Google Scholar
Kovács, T. 1991. Das bronzezeitliche Goldarmband von Dunavecse. Folia Archaeologica 42: 7–25.Google Scholar
Kovács, T. 1999. Bronzezeit, in Kovács, T. & Raczky, P. (ed.) Prähistorische Goldschätze aus dem Ungarischen Nationalmuseum: 37–63. Budapest.Google Scholar
Kristiansen, K. 2002. The tale of the sword - swords and swordfighters in Bronze Age Europe. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 21: 319–32.Google Scholar
Kristiansen, K. & Larsson, T.B.. 2005. The rise of Bronze Age society. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Larsson, T.B. 1996. The horse and the wheel, in Knape, A. (ed) Kult, Kraft, Kosmos: 45. Stockholm: Statens Historiska Museum.Google Scholar
Lindsay, J. 1972. Origins of Astrology. New York: Barnes & Noble.Google Scholar
Liversage, D. & Northover, J.P.. 1998. Prehistoric trade monopolies and bronze supply in northern Europe, in L'Atelier du Bronzier en Europe du XXè au VIIIè siecle avant notre ère Tome I: 137–51. Paris.Google Scholar
MacDonald, J. 2000. The arctic sky. Iqaluit: Nunavut Research Institute.Google Scholar
Malmer, M.P. 1981. A Chorological Study of North European Rock Art. Antikvariska serien 32.Google Scholar
Maunder, E.W. 1913. The origin of the constellations. The Observatory 36: 329–34.Google Scholar
Meller, H. 2002. Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra - ein frühbronzezeitlicher Fund von aussergewöhnlicher Bedeutung. Archäologie in Sachsen-Anhalt. Band 1: 7–20.Google Scholar
Meller, H. 2004. Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 22–31. Stuttgart: Theiss.Google Scholar
Minnaert, M. 1940. Light & Colour in the open air. London: Bell & Sons.Google Scholar
Nagy, Gy. & Valavanis, P.D.. 1993. The sun in Greek art and culture, in Singh, M. (ed.) The sun, symbols of power and life: 281–95. New York: Harry N. Abrams.Google Scholar
Navarro, R. & Losada, M.A.. 1997. Shape of stars and optical quality of the human eye. Journal of the Optical Society of America. A 14: 353–59.Google Scholar
Neugebauer, J.W. 1987. Die Bronzezeit im Osten Österreichs. St. Pöten/Wien: NP Verlag.Google Scholar
Oppitz, M. 1992. Drawings on shamanic drums. Anthropology and Aesthetics 22: 63–81.Google Scholar
Ovenden, M.W. 1966: The origin of the constellations. The Philosophical Journal 3 (1): 1–18.Google Scholar
Pannekoek, A. 1961. A History of Astronomy. London: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Pernicka, E. 2004. Die Naturwissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen der Himmelsscheibe, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 34–7. Stuttgart: Theiss.Google Scholar
Probst, E. 1996. Deutschland in der Bronzezeit. München: C. Bertelsmann.Google Scholar
Rogers, J.H. 1998. Origins of the ancient constellations I: The Mesopotamian traditions. Journal of the British Astronomical Association 108: 9–28.Google Scholar
Roy, A.E. 1984. The origin of the constellations. Vistas in Astronomy 27: 171–97.Google Scholar
Ruggles, C.L.N. 1988. Records in stone. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Ruggles, C.L.N. 1999. Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland. New Haven/London: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Schauer, P. 2005. Kritische Anmerkungen zum Bronzeensemble mit ‘Himmelsscheibe’ angeblich vom Mittelberg bei Nebra, Sachsen-Anhalt. Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 35: 323–28.Google Scholar
Schlosser, W. 2002. Zur astronomischen Deutung der Himmelsscheibe von Nebra. Archäologie in Sachsen-Anhalt 1: 21–3.Google Scholar
Schlosser, W. 2003. Astronomische Deutung der Himmelsscheibe von Nebra. Sterne und Weltraum 12: 34–40.Google Scholar
Schlosser, W. 2004. Die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 44–7. Stuttgart: Theiss.Google Scholar
Schumacher-Matthäus, G. 1985. Studien zu Bronzezeitlichen Schmucktrachten im Karpatenbecken. Marburger Studien zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte 6. Mainz: Zabern.Google Scholar
Schwarz, R. 2004. Äxte aus dem hohen norden - zur Geschichte der Bronzeaxt aus Hermannshagen, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 178–9. Stuttgart: Theiss.Google Scholar
Sprockhoff, E. 1930. Zur Handelgeschichte der germanischen Bronzezeit. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vandkilde, H. 1998. Denmark and Europe: Typochronology, metal composition and Socio-economic change in the Early Bronze Age, in L'Atelier du Bronzier en Europe du XXè au VIIIè si?ecle avant notre ère Tome I: 119–34. Paris: CTHS.Google Scholar
Zipf, G. 2004. Zwei mysteriöse Objekte - die Becken aus Haschendorf und Balk?akra, in Meller, H. (ed.) Der Geschmiedete Himmel: 74–8. Stuttgart: Theiss Google Scholar