Drinking horn
As a drinking horn is called a common drinking vessel in ancient times, originally made of animal horns ( bison or aurochs ), but was recreated by the Greeks at the time of refined culture in clay and metal. In some cultures, was also a so-called rhyton used was in contrast to the normal drinking horn from the open top, and not from the big mouth, drunk out of that.
Probably the oldest illustration of a drinking horn is the Venus of Laussel, an approximately 25,000 years ago -made in France limestone figure. Whether this is actually a drinking horn is no longer determine because horns can also have served as a color or food container, but says the gesture of the woman who leads the horn with the muzzle to the face, strong for use as a drinking vessel.
Archaeological evidence for use of drinking horns, in the form of metal fittings and link assemblies, date back to the Bronze Age. An impressive collection of nine studded with bronze and gold drinking horn was given to the Celtic prince of so-called high village to the grave. Also notable is the drinking horn finds from Sutton Hoo and Taplow from the 7th century AD In addition, are a striking number of drinking horns were made of glass in the first half of the 1st millennium, which were traded from the Rhine region of up to Scandinavia. Due to the often elaborate ornamentation with precious materials Horns are often seen as representative drinking vessels for special occasions, such as an official welcome drink, or for cultic religious acts.
Pictorial representations of drinking horns can be found on the Bayeux Tapestry and the Gotland picture stones. For this research, in addition to the archaeological finds of particular importance, as this is time testimonies, and were not written as a literary tradition until centuries later.
In the literary tradition is all about Norse sagas, where drinking horns often play a role. The most interesting literary drinking horn GrimR inn Godi found in Þorsteins Þáttr bæjarmagns, one of the ancient sagas. It is a magical drinking horn with a human head at the top, on the one hand the power of its owner confirmed, but on the other hand one can predict the future. Such a representation of a drinking horn is unique in the Old Norse literature, even if there are many more horns mention.
A except Nordic literary evidence for the use of drinking horns ( cornu Urii ) are Julius Caesar in De bello gallico (Book 6, Chapter 28. )
The use of drinking horns, however, was not limited to Europe. Especially in the area many Scythian drinking horns made of gold were found, as well as drinking horn representations on gold plates. For more information on the use of horns as drinking and storage vessels, there are also from Africa and North America.
In the Gothic Middle Ages were drinking horns object elaborate artistic ornamentation, by placing them in metal, mainly in silver gilt, mounted and provided with a foot or even an architectural foundation. In addition to animal horns and hollowed elephant tusks were later used rhinoceros and Narwalzähne that were either polished or decorated with carvings. The Renaissance was formed from the drinking horn to a ceremonial vessel of the ultimate in luxury. Recently, the horns were replicated itself in glass and silver.
At the present time, they serve mostly as showpieces. In the metal and the medieval scene, as well as student organizations and followers of Asatru Drinking Horns are furthermore used.
Visualization of drinking horns on the Bayeux Tapestry ( 1070 )
Icelandic, carved drinking horn ( 1598 )
Modern, use compatible drinking horn.