Warrior of Hirschlanden
Encyclopedia
The Warrior of Hirschlanden is a statue
of a nude ithyphallic warrior
made of sandstone
, the oldest known Iron Age
life-size anthropomorphic statue north of the Alps. It was a production of the Hallstatt culture
, probably dating to the 6th century BC. It is now in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart
.
The warrior wears a pointed hat, maybe – in analogy to the princely grave of Hochdorf
– made of birchbark, a neck-ring (torc
) and a belt with a typical late Hallstatt dagger.
While the legs are modelled according to life, the upper body is rather schematic and the face is extremely sketchy, leading to discussions that the man might be wearing a mask, as is known from burials in Klein-Klein, Styria, Austria, Trebenište (Macedonia) and the much earlier shaft-graves of Mycenae
, ca. 1500 BC.
Greek
influence (kouroi
) has been discussed. Numerous black figure vessels from fortified settlements of the period attest trading contacts with the Mediterranean, probably via the Rhône River
and the Greek colony of Massilia (Marseille
). Much closer stylistic connections exist with the far more elaborate statues from Capestrano
, Picenium, Italy
(650-550 BC) and Casale Marittimo (middle of the 7th century).
The statue was found in Hirschlanden (now Ditzingen
, Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
) in 1963 when a low barrow
was excavated. The barrow was surrounded by a stone circle
and a dry stone wall. It contained 16 burials, ranging from the very beginning of the Iron Age (Hallstatt D1, ca. 600 BC) to the beginning of the Late Iron Age (La Tène
period, ca. 450 BC). The statue was found north of the barrow, but is supposed to have been originally placed on the top.
The statue shows significant weathering, suggesting that it stood exposed to the elements for a long time before being buried.
Other anthropomorphic statues of the early Iron Age have been found in Rottenburg, Tübingen, Stammheim and Stockach (all Baden-Württemberg, Germany), but they are far more stylised, more carving than statue.
In the following La Tène period, anthropomorphic statues are far more common, examples include the finds from the Glauberg
(Hessen, Germany), Holzgerlingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) and Mšecke Žehrovice (Bohemia).
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of a nude ithyphallic warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
made of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, the oldest known Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
life-size anthropomorphic statue north of the Alps. It was a production of the Hallstatt culture
Hallstatt culture
The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Central European culture from the 8th to 6th centuries BC , developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC and followed in much of Central Europe by the La Tène culture.By the 6th century BC, the Hallstatt culture extended for some...
, probably dating to the 6th century BC. It is now in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
.
History
The feet have been broken off.The warrior wears a pointed hat, maybe – in analogy to the princely grave of Hochdorf
Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave
The Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave is a richly-furnished Celtic burial chamber dating from 530 BC. An amateur archaeologist discovered it in 1977 near Hochdorf an der Enz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany...
– made of birchbark, a neck-ring (torc
Torc
A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large, usually rigid, neck ring typically made from strands of metal twisted together. The great majority are open-ended at the front, although many seem designed for near-permanent wear and would have been difficult to remove. Smaller torcs worn around...
) and a belt with a typical late Hallstatt dagger.
While the legs are modelled according to life, the upper body is rather schematic and the face is extremely sketchy, leading to discussions that the man might be wearing a mask, as is known from burials in Klein-Klein, Styria, Austria, Trebenište (Macedonia) and the much earlier shaft-graves of Mycenae
Mycenae
Mycenae is an archaeological site in Greece, located about 90 km south-west of Athens, in the north-eastern Peloponnese. Argos is 11 km to the south; Corinth, 48 km to the north...
, ca. 1500 BC.
Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
influence (kouroi
Kouros
A kouros is the modern term given to those representations of male youths which first appear in the Archaic period in Greece. The term kouros, meaning youth, was first proposed for what were previously thought to be depictions of Apollo by V. I...
) has been discussed. Numerous black figure vessels from fortified settlements of the period attest trading contacts with the Mediterranean, probably via the Rhône River
Rhône River
The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...
and the Greek colony of Massilia (Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
). Much closer stylistic connections exist with the far more elaborate statues from Capestrano
Capestrano
Capestrano is a comune and small town with 965 inhabitants , in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. It is located in the natural park known as the "Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park".-Antiquity:...
, Picenium, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(650-550 BC) and Casale Marittimo (middle of the 7th century).
The statue was found in Hirschlanden (now Ditzingen
Ditzingen
Ditzingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated about 10 km northwest of Stuttgart, and 12 km southwest of Ludwigsburg. The Hirschlanden transmitter is located near Ditzingen-Hirschlanden...
, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) in 1963 when a low barrow
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
was excavated. The barrow was surrounded by a stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
and a dry stone wall. It contained 16 burials, ranging from the very beginning of the Iron Age (Hallstatt D1, ca. 600 BC) to the beginning of the Late Iron Age (La Tène
La Tène culture
The La Tène culture was a European Iron Age culture named after the archaeological site of La Tène on the north side of Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, where a rich cache of artifacts was discovered by Hansli Kopp in 1857....
period, ca. 450 BC). The statue was found north of the barrow, but is supposed to have been originally placed on the top.
The statue shows significant weathering, suggesting that it stood exposed to the elements for a long time before being buried.
Other anthropomorphic statues of the early Iron Age have been found in Rottenburg, Tübingen, Stammheim and Stockach (all Baden-Württemberg, Germany), but they are far more stylised, more carving than statue.
In the following La Tène period, anthropomorphic statues are far more common, examples include the finds from the Glauberg
Glauberg
The Glauberg is a Celtic oppidum in Hesse, Germany consisting of a fortified settlement and several burial mounds, "a princely seat of the late Hallstatt and early La Tène periods."Archaeological discoveries in the 1990s place the site among the most important early Celtic centres in Europe...
(Hessen, Germany), Holzgerlingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) and Mšecke Žehrovice (Bohemia).
Literature
- Piceni, Popolo d'Europa (Roma, Edizioni de Luca 1999).
- Sabine Rieckhoff, Jörg Biel et al., Die Kelten in Deutschland (Stuttgart, Theiss 2001). ISBN 3806213674