  The chariot of the sun Trundholm, Denmark 14th century BC © Photo: National Museum, Copenhagen – Kit Weiss  Relief cut-out Ornament Delphi-Sanctuary of Apollo, Phokis Greece Archaic Period, second half of the 6th century BC, 540-530 BC Archaeological Museum, Delphi © Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Stephanos Stournaras  “Conus“ or Head-Dress From southwest Germany/Switzerland; unknown provenance Late Bronze Age, 10th-8th centuries BC Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte, Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin © Photo: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte - K. Göken  Piriform Jar Prosymna-Chamber Tomb II, Argolid Greece Middle of the 15th century BC National Archaeological Museum, Athens © Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture - Stephanos Stournaras  Votive double axe Arkalochori Cave, Crete, Greece 15th century BC Archaeological Museum, Heraklion © Photo: Hellenic Ministry of Culture - I. Iliadis |
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Gods and Heroes of the Bronze Age Europe at the Time of Ulysses 25th Exhibition of the Council of Europe 13 May – 22 August 1999       
The exhibition Gods and Heroes of the Bronze Age. Europe at the Time of Ulysses brings to life one of the most important epochs of early European history. The Bronze Age (c. 2400 to 600 BC) was an epoch of change and renewal in Europe. Despite considerable geographical, economic, cultural, religious and social differences, a form of cultural unity developed in a large region extending from the Urals in the east to the Atlantic in the west, from the Scandinavian countries in the north to the Mediterranean countries in the south. By way of illustrating this unity, the exhibition gathers together over 250 loans from 23 European countries, including unique Bronze Age treasures housed in 70 museums in Europe. Gold from the royal Mycenaean tombs will be on display alongside gold vessels that were among the treasures found in central and northern Europe. The famous Chariot of the Sun from Trundholm in Denmark - symbolising close association with the sun god - can be seen beside cult waggons from Central Europe and the Mediterranean region. The magnificent weaponry of the Greek Bronze Age heroes is presented along with the armour of the tribal princes of the northern European Bronze Age. Tall stelae made from hewn stone with portrayals of heroes, horned helmets, heavy cult axes, and instruments such as the Danish lur will also be on display. And there is a very special highlight: the "gold hats" (conus) from France and Germany (scholars have yet not been able clearly to establish their function), which are displayed together for the first time in the history of archaeology. All these items show the steps taken by mankind in the field of metallurgy in working with the new material bronze, a hard alloy of copper and tin. They also bear witness to the concurrent development of new crafting skills, the result of the import of raw materials from remote regions and of growing trade in luxury commodities. The treasures of this epoch include not only work in bronze but also gold, silver, clay, ivory and amber. Despite wars and social conflicts, this epoch of dazzling opulence lasting almost 2000 years is often called the first "Golden Age". Of special importance for the Bronze Age was the emergence of Greek linear script in the middle of the second millennium BC. Its decipherment in the early 1950s was responsible for the sensational discovery that the inhabitants of the Mycenaean palaces spoke Greek, the language of Homer. Exhibits document the fact that this linear script heralded the beginning of written history. Major events of the Bronze Age include the Trojan War and the homecoming of Ulysses. The exhibition projects a splendidly colourful picture of early European history, preserved for all time in Homer's epics the Iliad and the Odyssey. These two works, the oldest literature of Europe (c. 750 BC), reach far back into the Mycenaean Bronze Age and illustrate life of the heroes in that age. The exhibition is under the patronage of the Council of Europe. The concept was developed by the National Museum, Copenhagen; the Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris; the Association Française d'Action Artistique/Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Paris; the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, General Directorate of Antiquities, Athens; and the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn. The exhibition itinerary includes Copenhagen, Bonn, Paris and Athens. An information room in the exhibition will give visitors opportunity to explore the theme in depth: it will include literature, maps, reproductions, and a computer simulation specially produced for the exhibition in Bonn. Another "intercultural" encounter was less dramatic: in the 1540s, Portuguese and Japanese faced one other with astonishment. The arrival of "long-nosed" travellers wearing the extremely ample trousers of the time was recorded by contemporary Japanese artists in a number of impressive representations on folding paper screens. Two of these extremely rare objects are unquestionably among the highlights of the Bonn exhibition. For the presentation, a film has been produced on the exhibits, locations of the archaeological finds and sacred sites of the Bronze Age. Showings will start at the end of May. For the accompanying programme, a series of academic lectures is being prepared in which experts will address the phenomenon of the Bronze Age. This will be supplemented by workshops with practical/creative features for children, young people and adults. Dates and further information are given in a separate brochure. The exhibition catalogue (approximately 300 pages and 230 colour illustrations) includes essays by internationally renowned archaeologists and scholars documenting the present-day state of research. Along with maps and an extensive bibliography, these make the catalogue an attractive work on the Bronze Age in Europe. Exhibition Curators: Kati Demakopoulou Christiane Éluère Jørgen Jensen Albrecht Jockenhövel Jean-Pierre Mohen  Council of Europe - Exhibition pages email: Susanne Kleine, Project Manager |
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