Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
himself from the IRA and becomes the dominant Irish political leader for the next
40 years.
Clonycavan Man is from Ireland. One summer day around 200
B.C.
, this twentyso-
mething man was hacked to death with an axe and disemboweled. In his time, he stood
5′9" tall and had a mohawk-style haircut, poofed up with pine-resin hair product imported
from France. Today you can still see traces of his hair. Only his upper body survived; the
lower part may have been lost in the threshing machine that unearthed him in 2003.
Why were these people killed? It appears to have been a form of ritual human sacrifice
of high-status people. Some may have been enemy chiefs or political rivals, but regardless,
their deaths were offerings to the gods to ensure rich harvests and good luck. Other items
(now on display) were buried along with them—gold bracelets, royal cloaks, and finely
wrought cauldrons.
Treasury:
Irish metalworking is legendary, and this room holds 1,500 years of ex-
quisite objects. Working from one end of the long room to the other, you'll journey from
the world of the pagan Celts to the coming of Christianity, explore the stylistic impact
of the Viking invasions (9th-12th century), and consider the resurgence of ecclesiastical
metalworking (11th-12th century).
Pagan Era Art:
A mysterious pagan god greets you, in a
carved stone head
from circa
A.D.
100. The god's three faces express the different aspects of his stony personality. This
abstractstyle—typical ofCelticart—wouldbeathomeinamodernartmuseum.A
bronze
horn
(firstcentury
B.C.
)isthekindofcurvedwartrumpetthattheCeltsblastedtofreakout
the Roman legions. The fine objects of the
Broighter Hoard
(first century
B.C.
) include
a king's golden collar decorated in textbook Celtic style, with interlaced vines inhabited
by stylized faces. The tiny boat was an offering to the sea god. The coconut-shell-shaped
bowl symbolized a cauldron. By custom, the cauldron held food as a constant offering to
Danu, the Celtic mother goddess, whose mythical palace was at Bru na Boinne.
Early Christian Objects:
Christianity officially entered Ireland in the fifth century
(when St. Patrick converted the pagan king), but Celtic legends and art continued well into
the Christian era. You'll see various crosses, shrines (portable reliquaries containing holy
relics), and chalices decorated with Celtic motifs. The
Belt Shrine
—a circular metal cas-
ing that held a saint's leather belt—was thought to have magical properties. When placed
around someone's waist, it could heal the wearer or force him or her to tell the truth.
The
Chalice of Ardagh
and the nearby
Silver Paten
were used during Communion to
hold blessed wine and bread. Get close to admire the elaborate workmanship. The main
bowl of the chalice is gilded bronze, with a contrasting band of intricately patterned gold
