Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age

11 days left

Invest in History Education

By supporting our charity World History Foundation, you're investing in the future of history education. Your donation helps us empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the world around them. Help us start the new year ready to publish more reliable historical information, free for everyone.
$3029 / $10000

Illustration

Nathalie Choubineh
by
published on 11 December 2024
Subscribe to author
Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age Download Full Size Image

Clay figurine found in Chorvátsky Grob, Late Bronze Age.

Slovak National Museum, Bratislava.

Moon idols (Mondidole), also known as 'firedogs' (Feuerböcke), were clay figurines shaped like a dog or wolf, whose elongated, backward bending neck merged at the end with a wheel-like moon disc. These zoomorphic, surreal statues are among the most characteristic grave goods remaining from the Urnfield Culture, the Late Bronze Age culture of Central Europe between the 14th and the 8th centuries BCE that partially overlapped with the succeeding Hallstatt Culture. Named after the practice of using urns to bury the cremated body of the dead, the Urnfield Culture is represented by burials containing decorated and plain pieces of pottery, various metal articles often gender-specific (e.g. hairpins and jewelry for females, swords, pins, and iron 'wights' for men), and ritual artefacts such as vessels and idols.

Remove Ads
Advertisement
Subscribe to this author

About the Author

Nathalie Choubineh
Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge.

Photo Location

This photograph was taken at the following location:

References

Add External Link

External Links

About the museum | Slovak National Museum
snm.sk

Cite This Work

APA Style

Choubineh, N. (2024, December 11). Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/

Chicago Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 11, 2024. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/.

MLA Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 11 Dec 2024. Web. 20 Dec 2024.

Membership