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Arts Arts Ten jewels of archeology: of prehistoric gold

The National Archaeological Museum (MAN) reopens its doors.Since April 1, after more than two and a half years closed, the public will have the possibility of visiting one of the centers of greatest cultural value in Spain, an institution that, after a comprehensive reform of 65 million euros, reborn totally adaptedto the 21st century.

The museum has suffered a deep aesthetic transformation and a significant improvement at the didactic and technological level thanks to high quality audiovisual material, a very clear minimalist design and a logical distribution of the pieces that contribute to arouse the interest of the visitor and facilitate learning.

In addition, an increase in the surface of 13%has been carried out, from 19,280 square meters to 23,303 square meters.The largest increase, of 30.3%, has occurred on the exhibition surface, in which 10,000 square meters have been divided into 40 rooms that exhibit 13,000 objects.

The permanent exhibition travels through the history of Spain from prehistory to the nineteenth century through times such as Roman Hispania or the Middle Ages.The last date referenced is 1867, the year in which Isabel II founded the museum.Here begins a brief tour of the history of the institution itself to finally give way to the archaeological pieces from other countries and cultures such as Egypt, the classical or near -east Greece ..

It will be possible to visit the free museum until April 21, from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.From that date, it will have a basic rate of 3 euros.

Ten essential pieces

Extremadura idol

Time: Third Millennium B.C.

Descripción: Los grandes ojos son el elemento común que caracteriza a éste ídolo y a otros similares que reciben por ello la denominación de oculados. Decorado en todo su contorno, representa los rasgos del rostro, un posible tatuaje o pintura facial, y el cabello.

What was it for: the brands observed in these idols are interpreted as possible territorial or family references.Despite being asexual representations, they have also been linked to female divinities or death personifications, within beliefs focused on fertility cult and linked to agricultural societies.

It is important because ... it reflects aspects of the life of the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula during the long period of the Bronze or Calcolithic age.

Dato curioso: Aunque se conoce como Extremadura idol, su procedencia más probable estaría al Sur del valle del Guadalquivir.

Axtroki bowls

Time: 1200 B.C.- 801 B.C.

Descripción: Dos cuencos de oro de forma semiesférica acabados en un reborde curvado. Están decorado en bandas horizontales repujadas, mientras que en el fondo se disponen concéntricamente. En esta decoración geométrica se ha querido ver una simbología solar. Estas piezas se realizaron mediante batido sobre un molde, con la decoración realizada mediante troqueles.

What they were for: some pieces of this type have been interpreted as ritual helmets, while in most cases they seem to be used containers for ceremonial purposes.

They are important because ... they constitute two excellent pieces of the so -called age of the final bronze and demonstrate the great domain in the gold work that existed in that period.

Curious fact: They appeared in a rock, one inside the other.It is a model that, with notable formal variants, is repeated from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula and from the British Isles to Central Europe.

Egyptian sarcophagus

Artes Artes Diez joyas de la arqueología: de orfebrería prehistórica y sarcófagos a la Lady of Elche Diez joyas de la arqueología: de orfebrería prehistórica y sarcófagos a la Lady of Elche

Time: 1080 B.C.- 946 B.C.(XXI dynasty)

Descripción: Sarcófago antropoide de madera formado por la caja, la tapadera exterior y la tapadera interior que iría en contacto directo con la momia. Va tocada con peluca tripartita de rayas verticales paralelas y adornada con una cinta. La esclavina "usej " le cubre el pecho y sobre ella aparecen las manos cerradas. El cuerpo está cubierto con inscripciones y dibujos. Se representan los "Cuatro Hijos de Horus" y las divinidades femeninas. El sarcófago es anónimo, no apareciendo el nombre del propietario en ninguna de las numerosas inscripciones que le cubre, aunque sin duda perteneció a un sacerdote del clero de Amón.

What was it for: in ancient Egypt, the sarcophagus was a fundamental element of the rituals of embalming and mummification related to the achievement of eternal life.In this case, that idea can be seen in the paintings inside the box, with a female goddess in the backTomorrow, together with the owner of the sarcophagus who wanted to resurrect.

It is important because ... it is one of the five sarcophagi donated by the Egyptian government to Spain after the important discovery in Deir El-Bahari at the end of the 19th century.

Curious fact: the decoration completely occupies the outer surface, without being a single empty space, as usual in the coffins of this period.

Lady of Elche

Time: 500 B.C.at 301 B.C.

Descripción: Busto femenino, que presenta una dama de rostro con facciones muy perfectas, aunque no simétricas del todo, y que conserva restos de policromía en los labios y zonas puntuales de rostro y vestimenta. La dama va ataviada muy ricamente: en la cabeza lleva un peculiar tocado formado por una tiara puntiaguda cubierta por un velo y encima un tirante que une los dos rodetes laterales o "estuches" que enmarcan el rostro donde iría recogido el peinado y una diadema sobre la frente. No se sabe si se trataba en origen de un busto o de una parte de una figura de pie o sedente.

What was it for: its function has been speculated since it was found in an inhabited place, but with a subsequent hole, which suggests its original use as a funeral container, as well as the Lady of Baza.At the same time, it has been interpreted as the representation of a goddess, a priestess or the portrait of a real character, possibly a lady of the local aristocracy, an option that gains strength.In this sense, the sculpture would represent a royal character or the aristocracy adorned for a special ceremony.

It is important because ... his finding helped to configure and give his own personality to the Iberian culture within the Mediterranean context.

Curious fact: technically and stylistically, a work of strong Greek influence is considered, possibly made by an artist of this origin, perhaps linked to the nearby Puerto de Santa Pola, after receiving the commission of a high -ranking Iberian character.

Costitx bulls

Time: 500 B.C.A 201 A.C.

Descripción: Estas tres cabezas de toro de bronce fueron realizadas en fundición a la cera perdida, huecos en el interior y con los detalles trazados en frío, mediante incisiones a cincel. Orejas y cuernos se fundieron por separado y se unieron a la cabeza mediante remaches. Los ojos, en algunos casos, estaban rellenos de pasta vítrea.

What they served: they are interpreted as the representation of a divinity rather than as elements of cult of the bull.It has also been proposed that, before serving as religious symbols, they could have constituted the bow of a ship, as masks in the style of the pro -ships of Sardinia, since the Sardi ships had masks in the form of bull and deer heads,subsequently offered to the sanctuary by the navigators themselves or by Mallorcan indigenous people who had captured the ships.

They are important because ... Few bronze works of the time have a technical perfection of this level.

Curious fact: The three heads were found in the 19th century in the Sanctuary of Son Corró, in Costitx (Mallorca).The Sanctuary, in operation since the 5th century BC.Until the Roman conquest, it was a rectangular building inside which were distributed without order monolithic pillars one meter high.It is believed that three bronze sculptures presided over ceremonies: two bull heads and one of calf, possibly placed on column shafts.

Heracles crater

Time: 350 B.C.- 320 B.C.

Descripción: Crátera greiga con motivos mitológicos. En un escenario teatral, el pintor Asteas representa uno de los pasajes más dramáticos de la vida de Heracles (Hércules en la mitología romana), cuando la persecución a la que le tiene sometido la diosa Hera le hace perder la cordura. Asteas se inspira en la tragedia Heracles de Eurípides escrita unos 70 años antes y en su pintura nos ofrece una buena muestra de un escenario suritálico del siglo IV con su arquitectura característica. En la cara B se representa una escena dionisíaca.

What was it for: these great capacity vessels served as containers for a mixture of water and wine.Then, the cupo used a ladle to collect the drink and fill the cups of the diners.Through the scenes painted in the Greek ceramics it is possible to know life in the Greek polis, their organization, the situation and activities that man and woman played there, and the world of their gods and their heroes.

It is important because ... it is part of a set of excellent quality pieces, some - as it is - made by the best artists of their time, which makes this collection of Greek ceramics one of the most valuable of this existing typein Europe.In addition, their images introduce us to myth, religion, power, politics, daily life, theater, literature and many other essential aspects of the ancient world.

Curious fact: The crater has the painter's signature.

Guarrazar Treasury

Time: years 621 A.D.at 672 A.D.

Descripción: Conjunto de coronas votivas y otros elementos de orfebrería hallados a finales del siglo XIX a las afueras de la localidad toledana de Guadamur. Destacan dos brazos de una cruz procesional de oro y gemas, y la corona votiva del rey Recesvinto (649-672), de la que penden las letras con su nombre como oferente.

What was it for: they had to be offerings by kings and high -ranking characters, to one of the basilicas of the capital of the kingdom, Toledo, testifying the influence of Byzantine customs in the Visigothic court.

It is important because ... it conforms one of the most valuable Visigothic goldsmith treasures ever found, with several gold pieces set with sapphires, pearls and other precious stones.

Curious fact: The Treasury is distributed today in three venues: National Archaeological Museum, Royal Palace in Madrid and the National Du Moyen Age Musée in Paris.

Zamora boat

Time: 901 A.D.at 1000 A.D.(Prior to 964 A.D.)

Descripción: Bote de marfil, que aprovecha la forma cilíndrica del colmillo, con tapa en forma de cúpula que se articula y cierra con bisagra y broche de plata nielada. Está elaborado con una delicada talla que origina efectos de claroscuro con los motivos que lo adornan: ataurique de hojas y palmetas, pavones, gacelas y otras aves que recrean el ambiente pacífico propio de un jardín palatino.

What was it for: this container was a gift commissioned by the Caliph Alhaquen II for the Basque concubine Subh, his favorite and later mother of his firstborn, Hisham II, who ended up being the third Caliph Umayya of Córdoba.

It is important because ... the size is very delicate, which makes this boat one of the most refined ivory works of the time.

Curious fact: At the base of the lid, an inscription is run in complicate characters that informs about the execution date of the piece (353 of the Hégira/ 964 d. C.), the author (Durri al-Salir) who ordered her to do it(Caliph al-hakam II) and for whom it was destined (subh).

Crucifix by Don Fernando and Doña Sancha

Time: 1050 A.D.at 1060 A.D.

Descripción: Cruz relicario de marfil y azabache formada por la cruz propiamente y el crucificado, en cuya espalda está horadado un receptáculo para albergar una reliquia de la "Vera Cruz". A los pies de Cristo, Adán, causante de la caída del hombre, sale de la tumba y, en la parte superior, aparece Cristo resucitado.

What was it for: religious reason.Its decoration synthetically summarizes the history of salvation, with a funeral nuance, from the Gospel of Matthew.

It is important because ... it constitutes the top work of the Ebolaria (the art of carving the ivory) of the eleventh century.He was part of the Donated Treasury, on December 17, 1063, to the Collegiate of San Isidoro for the Kings of León and Castilla, Don Fernando and Doña Sancha ..

Curious fact: its Latin cross structure breaks with the Hispanic tradition of kicks kicking (whose arms narrow when they reach the center and widen at the ends) of the Visigothic era that survives in later centuries.

Neperian abacus

Time: Year 1878 A.D.

Descripción: Estuche con forma de pequeño armario de madera con dos puertas y 30 cajones. Los frentes de los cajones y las hojas interiores de las puertas van recubiertos con placas de marfil embutidas, decoradas con dibujos arquitectónicos, motivos vegetales, figuras geométricas y tablas de potencia. En la parte superior de las puertas hay dos escudos con los emblemas pertenecientes al Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

What was it for: It is designed to save and use the ivory pieces that belong to two abacos with which it is possible to perform operations mechanically.

It is important because ... John Napier devised two abacus, one of rods and another of chips.Both, gathered in a single device, make up this piece, a unique historical jewel in Europe.

Curious fact: it is unknown who was the author of this jewel, and it is not known if it is Spanish or foreign authorship.It is likely that it originally belonged to the Academy of Mathematics created by Felipe II or that the Prince of Wales was given as a gift.

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