Unprecedented Iron Age hoard, the consequences of spying on a goddess, & the god of volcanoes
Over 800 artefacts have been discovered in North Yorkshire
Archaeology news: The Melsonby Hoard
In case you missed it, last week archaeologists have announced the incredible discovery of an Iron Age hoard, so substantial it contains more than 800 artefacts, and it was found by an amateur metal detectorist. Named after the location of its discovery in North Yorkshire, the Melsonby hoard is a truly remarkable find. Originally covered just over four years ago, in late 2021, the hoard is an eclectic mix of Iron Age finds. Dated to around 2000 years ago, artefacts include parts of vehicles - including 28 iron towers perhaps from chariots or wagons, intricate bridles and horse harness for at least 14 equines, ceremonial weapons, and 2 ornate caldrons. After coming across the significant find, Peter Heads rightly reported it to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. By early 2022, archaeologists from the University of Durham were excavating at the site, receiving funding from Historic England and advice off the British Museum. But what they found was beyond their imaginations; a hoard that amounts to one of the largest, most significant Iron Age discoveries in the U.K.
At the time of the hoard’s deposition in the 1st century B.C. Britain had not yet been conquered by the Romans, but cultural exchange was well and truly underway and it is a testament to the cross-cultural interactions of the time. Some of the harness pieces are ornamented with pieces of red coral imported from the Mediterranean but are set into metalwork that showcases distinctive Celtic patterns. One of the caldrons also evidences this, bearing a resemblance to both indigenous styles and borrowed ideas from mainland Europe. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the discovery is that it is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by Iron Age Britons, and they may have been inspired by vehicles found overseas.
Several of the objects show signs of being burnt or broken, and experts believe that they may have been damaged by wealthy individuals to reflect their status - a practice which harks back to the Bronze Age. Another theory is that they had been burnt on a funerary pyre before being buried, although no human remains have been discovered.
“Whoever originally owned the material in this hoard was probably a part of a network of elites across Britain, into Europe and even the Roman world. The destruction of so many high-status objects, evident in this hoard, is also of a scale rarely seen in Iron Age Britain and demonstrates that the elites of northern Britain were just as powerful as their southern counterparts.” - Professor Tom Moore.
Since their retrieval, the items have been scanned at the University of Southampton allowing experts to examine them without causing further damage. They will provide archaeologists with an opportunity to reconsider the cultural practices of Iron Age Britons, in particular members of the Brigantes tribe, and to build a clearer story of our country’s past.
It has been valued at £254,000 and the Yorkshire Museum are currently fundraising to acquire it. Aiming to prevent the hoard from being sold to a private collector and to instead give it a permanent home in a public museum, accessible for enjoyment and research, the museum is seeking additional finances for conservation. If you’d like to contribute here is the link to do so.
Art Explained: Diana and Actaeon
So you’ve been caught spying on a goddess whilst she is bathing with her friends - what could possibly go wrong? Well, this happened to one unlucky hero in Greek mythology and this painting tells the tragic consequences he faced. Painted by the Renaissance master Titian between 1556 and 1559, the piece measures 185 cm × 202 cm. The story begins with a hunter called Actaeon who, whilst on a hunting expedition with his friends, became separated from the group. When wandering through the forest, he accidentally came across a spring where a group of women were bathing. Unbeknownst to Actaeon, amongst this gathering of naked nymphs was the chaste goddess, Diana. The Roman goddess of the hunt, equivalent to the Greek Artemis, her other domains included fertility and the moon.
In the version of the myth retold in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Diana splashed him with water and cursed him, transforming him into a stag. His dogs, just moments before his hunting companions, caught sight of the deer and began to pursue their master. After a brutal chase, Actaeon was pinned by his hounds to the ground. Succumbing to his wounds, he overhears his friends - now caught up by the commotion - noting his absence, and saying just how much their missing friend would love to be there right now. Torn to pieces by his dogs, Actaeon is a brutal reminder of how you should never invade a goddesses’ privacy.
The scene shows the moment that the goddess after realising that she is being observed, becomes aware of his presence. Glaring at the intruder menacingly, Actaeon is shown raising his arms in defence, dropping his bow in the process. Despite the scene taking place before the gorey repercussions, the outcome is hinted at through a small detail in the background. Behind the trees above the goddess is the depiction of a stag being hunted by Diana.
The painting belongs to a series of mythological paintings produced for King Phillip II of Spain although it was never delivered. Titian simultaneously painted Diana and Callisto, with the paired works intended to hang side by side, where they remain today in the National Gallery. Another later piece showcasing the death of Actaeon can also be found there. So, let this tragic tale act as a caution - be very careful if you ever find yourselves alone in the woods and stumble across a group of beautiful women, it might just be your downfall.
Deities deciphered: the God of Volcanoes
All this talk about iron made me think about the ancient god of metalworking. The Roman Vulcan or his Ancient Greek counterpart, Hephaestus, was in charge of that domain in addition to forges and volcanoes. Born to the King and Queen of the Gods, Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus was rejected by his parents due to his unattractiveness and disability, and was thrown from Olympus. Landing on the island of Lemnos, the god eventually constructed a workshop within the volcano. Unhappily married to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sensuality, Hephaestus endured being cuckolded through his wife’s affair with Ares - a painting depicting this story will feature in an upcoming Art explained!
Hephaestus plays an important role in the mythological episode of Prometheus. First told in the 8th century B.C. work Hesiod’s Theogony, the story explains how humans received that knowledge of fire. In some versions the Titan stole a fire, giving it to mortals as gift to chivvy human advancements, whilst in others he restored their access to fire after it had been rescinded by Zeus.In any case, as a result of his disobedience, Prometheus was punished by Zeus who commissioned Hephaestus to forge an impenetrable chain to a mountain. Unable to break free, his liver was repeatedly pecked at by an eagle - certainly a cruel and unusual method of torture. Eventually freed by Herakles during one of his twelve labors, Prometheus became a symbol of endurance. Another phase of the punishment was directed at people, because Hephaestus did not only craft weapons and binds, he also tried his hand at humanity itself, creating the first ever woman, Pandora upon orders of Zeus. Her story should be saved for another time, but it explains how the world became poisoned by sorrow, disease and evil.
That’s all for this week’s newsletter! I hope that you enjoyed it! I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has subscribed - we’ve almost hit 2400 of you! Remember that all of my articles are to read for a month and then move into the archive. Paying subscribers have access to the entire archive, an extra article each week focussing on an artefact from the ancient world, and an exclusive group chat where we chat together in more detail about anything & everything history! See you next Monday!
