walrus
(2003-01-20) | Looks like a lunar phase pattern |
MR GREG FOX
(2004-01-30) | I AM AFRAID THIS IS NO MORE THAN A PIECE OF EARLY ARMOUR, IT IS A CHEST PLATE TO PROTECT THE HEART/LUNGS FROM A PENETRATING WOUND, IE AS A SERAMIC PLATE DOES IN A MODERN SOLDIERS BODY ARMOUR.THE DISC HAS REGULAR HOLES AROUND THE OUT SIDE EDGE INORDER TO LACE IT TO A LEATHER TABARD/TUNIC, THIS STYLE OF EARLY ARMOUR WAS STILL USED IN INDIA/PERSIA UNTILL THE 1800,S THE PATERN IS SIMULAR TO EARLY ART WHICH IS RANDOM AND NOT SYMMETRICAL AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PARTICULAR MEANING, IE LIKE SOME MEN WEAR TATTOOS OVER THEIR BODY AT RANDOM. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY IT WAS FOUND WITH SWORDS/AXE HEADS ETC SORRY TO BURST YOU BUBBLE YOURS MR GREG FOX |
Thorgrim
(2004-01-30) | The perforations aroundthe edge certainly suggest that it was sewn on to fabric. That doesn't mean that the evidence of the source of the metal, the estimated date of manufacture and the interpretation of the symbols are invalid though. |
Greg Fox
(2004-01-30) | I agree. The evidence of the source of the metal is probably correct. I don't have a problem with the date of manufacture as this type of armour (Disc armour) was well established during the bronze age.
With reference to the interpretation of the symbols this is a matter of conjecture; for the past 35 years I have collected and studied ethnic and pre-industrial arms and armour from the first thrown brick to the firearm and I have found as a common trait among non-industrial peoples, that when they decorate objects they do so in a random fashion. Consequently I do not believe that we should read too much into these symbols at this time as they may merely be frivilous decoration. I do apreciate your comments above as that's what anthropology is all about. |
Mary Rose
(2004-01-31) | I feel that this artifact may well have had both a physical and a spiritual
perpurse. As the wearer may well of not had too many places to carry
his possesions... |
Mary Rose
(2004-01-31) | As a further though the Sun and the Moon are placed rather like free
mason signs.. I have seen in a statley home.
Where they appear over a door coming into the house
What appeared to be vents in the hall which, could be covered with black circles... When the brethrin met they knew the sign, and move the eyes in that direction.. It also has a psychoneurological effect depending on what part of the circle is blacked out.
The 3rd eye is represented by the cluster of 7 star`s called Pladius I think. In their world they perhaps knew the world exsited in 7 dimentions. The symbles can be read in otheways too probably depending on your level of consciouness..
The boat at the bottom could be just that as well as a mouth..
so they simply knew which way up it was.
I assum the gold edge went all the way round at one time?
Here`s another thought could the other star`s be acupuncture points?
|
opus
(2004-03-30) | if the disc was worn,is it normal to only have a few mounting holes in groups ,rather than all the way around? could it have been a 'special' shield boss |
Graham
(2004-03-31) | The 100 degree span between the solstice gates corresponds with an angle on a bronze disk unearthed on a hilltop 25 kilometres away, near the town of Nebra. On it are shown a circle, the full moon, a cluster of 7 stars, the Pleiades, 'scattered stars and 3 arcs, all picked out in gold leaf from a background rendered violet blue.' The two opposing arcs, along the rim, are 82.5 degrees long and mark the sun's positions at sunrise and sunset on the winter solstice in central Germany at the time. Likewise, the uppermost points mark sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice.
|
Fanny oShay
(2004-05-06) | Hey diddle,diddle,the cat and the fiddle spring to mind.This childrens poem is similar to the disc pattern. |
Reality
(2004-05-25) | OMG, that's a prehistoric sky, and look, 2 moons? |
Klingon
(2004-09-21) | The disc was found on the top of the 252 meters high hill Mittelberg near the town Nebra (where my wife hails from!).
At summer solstice the Mittelberg, the mountain Brocken in the Harz mountains and the point of sunset are in one line. The Brocken is the highest mountain in a circumcircle of 300 km. It's also a sacred place. |
durundur
(2004-10-26) | The Nebra disk has a very interesting story, it was made 3600 years ago |
Ruan
(2004-11-09) | wow ! too much man! |
Homer
(2004-12-02) | It's a neolithic frisbee. |
dfs
(2004-12-13) | it looks nothing like copper |
tom
(2005-08-15) | what size is it? |
mkay
(2005-11-01) | It doesn't look like copper, because it is bronze.
It is supposed to be about 12 inches accross, hardly enough to "protect" someone in a battle.
|
(2005-12-08) | why does no1 refer on wich other artefacts the similar themes appear. It somehow seems familiar to me. the pleiades, the sun the moon, what are the rest? planets stars? Note that many old myths from that time mention the pleiades. Perhaps its very significant it was found on a hilltop.
Moons on symbols are often related to rituals because of the female menstuational period.
Although i think its exactly how greg F sees it, he's after all teh specialist, functionally an armour piece, and think the holes around it date from the date of production,(should be checked)
I don't think it excludes a ritual use, or it's use in conjecture with rituals.
It's a very common things for rituals to be carried out in especially made clothes.(look in the churches).
I know another funny theory...
long ago some1 found that disk.. he dropped his jaw and wondered, woow did my granfathers make this, it looks like the sky, and he went to hilltop to check, envisioned the pleiades,
looked at the rest of the map... and thought: oh rubbish, the guy didnt even look at the sky.
so he dropped it on the hilltop. and thats how all grandfathers armour pieces with stars on end up on hilltops.
just my 2p.
|
Angie
(2005-12-13) | Here some basic information from the State Museum of Saxony-Anhalt:
On the disc we can see 32 stars, two of originally three curved gold bands that follow the rim edge and two complete celestial forms which are probably representations of the sun and moon or alternatively various phases of the sun or moon possibly during a solar or lunar eclipse. Two of the 32 stars are overlain by one of the curved gold bands, one star has fallen off while one other star in the area of the missing gold band was repositioned during the later application of the two bands.
Following Professor Schlosser's interpretation the astronomical representation shows the seven star Pleiades constellation which were of importance in antiquity described in Hesiod with great emphasis. The artist consciously intended not to represent other constellations so as to emphasize the single representation. Furthermore, in the Ilias the description of the production of Achilles' shield reads like a description of the manufacture of our sky disc.
That the Pleiades are positioned beside the crescent moon in a constellation which would mean that lunar eclipses were observed by the prehistoric people and complex knowledge of celestial laws existed. The two gold bands on the edge of the disc which were applied later are representations of the horizons. The [lengths of the] two gold bands represent exactly an angle of 82,5° - this is the circle of the daily period pass through sunrise and sunset from 21 June to 21 December in Central Germany. It is particularly exciting that the third more curved gold band lies between the two horizon arcs. It most likely, because of the tiny lines on the upper and lower edges symbolising oars, represents a ship sailing between the horizons across the nocturnal celestial ocean. It is the first appearance of a religious symbol and leads to the beginning of a religious concept dominating the following centuries in the entire Central European Bronze Age.
At the moment the exhibition "the forged sky" with the Sky disc is in Vienna. |
Infinite Fate
(2005-12-31) | Although they may be placed at random it doesn't prevent some or all of the decorations being meaningful to the bearer of the original piece; the tattoo is a good one although not for the reasons mr fox may initially suppose. They may _appear_ to be placed at random to someone expecting a particular objective 'ideal' placement but to the bearer they may carry deep subjective meaning (which will, of course, be structured by and therefore reflective of contemporary cultural meanings). It's difficult, in fact, to think of anything manmade which is entirely random but not so difficult to think of myriad artisans whose works we cannot and may never fathom. |
Lee
(2006-01-05) | The world's first smiley? |
jumping-buddha
(2006-07-03) | lol. |
MikeGreen
(2007-06-22) | Does anyone know if it is back in Halle in Germany yet after its world tour, because I would like to go and see it? |
SteveDut
(2010-04-30) | I'm with the moon calendar theory, it looks like the monthly cycle but the group of 7 circles inbetween the full and cresent moon caught my attention straight up! que? |
SteveDut
(2010-05-01) | There's a better picture of this here ttp://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=a312&file=index&do=showpic&pid=44455&orderby=dateD |
Print
Main News