Crater of Vix

The crater of Vix is a vase of Bronze, type crater, discovered in 1953 in the tomb of a princess Celte with Vix (Coast-with Or) dated towards 510 av. J. - C..

Context

This burial, discovered by Rene Joffroy, was located in a field, under a arrasé Tumulus of which did not remain any more but of the scattered stones which drew the attention of the archeologists, but the vault, filled ground had remained inviolate. The late one, died towards the 35 years age, lay lengthened on the case of a small tank of parade whose wheels had been dismounted. It carried in the Au-delà three basins Etruscan bronzes some and the ustensils necessary to the banquet: Phiale (cut) silver with gilded umbilical point protected in a vegetable case, two cuts attics and the œnochoé Etruscan out of bronze.

The showpiece of this crockery is a crater with bronze volutes of a capacity of 1 100 liters, largest that the Antiquité bequeathed us, undoubtedly left a Greek workshop of Italy of the South towards 530 av. J. - C.

On the ground, pigments blue and red come from hangings or decorative paintings. The princess is decorated ornaments in local matter: collar of large pearls of stone and Amber, rings of ankle out of bronze, bracelet of Lignite, fibules with cabochons of Corail. It carries to the nape of the neck a Torque, collar Celtic in fine Or (480 G), work of a Goldsmith local initiate with the Mediterranean techniques .

More generally, the Tomb of Vix fact part of the whole of the Celtic tombs (Hochdorf, Reinheim, Kleinaspergle, Waldalgesheim) where the reasons for decoration and objects imported are about identical (Etruscan and Greek potteries, Celtic gold fibules and loops, jewels and amber coming from the regions Vikings). During crater of Vix is, all things considered, celebrates it Chaudron of Gundestrup silver, the crater and the layer out of bronze decorated with warriors and supported by wheels representing of the figurines in Sépulture of Hochdorf.

The crater

It is an exceptional object from its size (1,24 Mr.) and his invoice. It is consisted of the assembly of several separated parts, the unit weighs 208,6 kg.

the vase itself, of only one part in bronze sheet hammered weighs approximately 60 kg. Its bottom is round, its maximum diameter is of 1,27 Mr. and his capacity are of 1 100 liters, the average thickness of the wall varies between 1 and 1,3 Misters One does not manage to detect welding, the technical prowess of the ancient craftsmen leave perplexed our contemporaries who feel unable to reproduce such a work. At the time of its discovery. because of collapse of the roof of the vault, the crater was found crushed in accordion, the handles being found on the level of the foot, a work of restoration enables us to find it in its original state.

the foot is a cast part of one diameter at the base of 74 cm and weighs 20,2 kg. It receives the bottom of the tank and ensures the stability of the unit. It is decorated with traditional reasons for stylized plants.

handles, bronze cast iron of a weight of 46 kg each one. In the form of volutes a height of 55 cm, they are richly decorated with Gorgone S grimaçantes and drawing the language according to a standard model in the Greek bronze crockery.

the plank of the Hoplite S decorates the turn with the collar which is a brought back circle enclosing the top of the tank and supporting the handles. Eight Quadriga S led by a Aurige moreover small size, according to the rule of Isocephaly required by the composition, are followed each one by a hoplite to feet out of weapons. This plank is a masterpiece of the Greek Bas-relief.

the lid, breaks into leaf of bronze hammered of 13,8 kg, covered the opening of the crater. It concave and is perforated multiple holes which make think that it was used in fact as strainer. In its center, a raised umbilical point supports a statuette.

the statuette of the lid, out of run bronze, 19 measurement; cm in height and represents a woman, a hand ahead which perhaps held a lost object. It is vêtue of a Peplos, the head covered with a veil and appears of a style a little more antiquated than the other elements of the crater.

The craters, in antiquity, were intended to operate a mixture between the wine, imbuvable only, water, and undoubtedly various aromatics, the drink there was then drawn and distributed to the guests at the time of ritual or festive celebrations. The crater of Vix astonishes by its proportions and the way which it had to achieve to arrive of the workshops of the Grande Greece until this oppidum Burgundian. Undoubtedly was an element of prestige and a mark of power for the principality hallstattienne of the Lassois Mount. Its hiding in the tomb of the princess of Vix had to be followed relatively quickly by a decline of the principality and tragic events which led to lose the memory of it, thus allowing its safeguarding until its discovery in 1953.

The crater and the totality of the parts found in the princely burial of the tomb of Vix are exposed today with the Musée of Châtillonnais, with the Châtillon-on-Seine.

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