“Styria in ancient times” – Archaeology Museum Schloss Eggenberg

Written documentation for the teaching unit
“Styria in ancient times” –
Archaeology Museum Schloss Eggenberg
Learning history outside the classroom
505.102, VX, WS 2011/12 (Silke Hammer)
Written by Martin Bauer and Helmut Ortner
Learning history outside the classroom VX
Styria in ancient times
Table of contents
Topic ......................................................................................................................................2
Target group ...........................................................................................................................2
Reference to curriculum .........................................................................................................2
Previous knowledge................................................................................................................2
Outdoor lesson: Content and competences ..............................................................................2
1) Introduction ....................................................................................................................2
2) Teaching unit ..................................................................................................................3
3) Consolidation, evaluation, transfer… ..............................................................................3
Life in Styria in ancient times – Historical Outline..................................................................4
Plan of the museum and of the stations ...................................................................................5
1st station: Gravestones .......................................................................................................6
2nd station: Everyday life ....................................................................................................8
3rd station: Greek myths .................................................................................................... 10
4th station: The bull-fight .................................................................................................. 11
5th station: Hands made of sheet bronze (6th / 7th century B.C.) ..........................................12
6th station: Excurse – Egypt in ancient times ..................................................................... 12
7th station: Repolust Cave ................................................................................................. 13
8th station: Religion and worship ....................................................................................... 15
9th station: War and Hunting ............................................................................................. 16
10th station: Jewelry ..........................................................................................................18
11th station: Everyday objects ........................................................................................... 19
Criss-Cross ........................................................................................................................... 22
Literature.............................................................................................................................. 23
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Styria in ancient times
Topic
-
Social and religious life in today’s territory of Styria and neighboring regions in
ancient times
Materials, production and use of everyday objects in ancient times
The relevance of Archaeology for creating knowledge about the past
Target group
2nd class, AHS
Reference to curriculum1
-
Art and culture as a form of expression of an age
Characteristics of early advanced civilizations and the Greco-Roman antiquity –
relations to non-European cultures
The development of world views and conceptions of it including magic, mythical
and religious images
Borders and areas – Settlement and integration of the Austrian region
Previous knowledge
-
Basic knowledge about life in ancient times
Political and social structures of the Roman antiquity
Basic knowledge about ancient myths and religious beliefs
Outdoor lesson: Content and competences
1) Introduction
Content
Short overview of the ancient history of Styria and the history of the Archaeology Museum
Schloss Eggenberg
1
http://www.bmukk.gv.at/medienpool/786/ahs11.pdf
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Styria in ancient times
Competences/aims of teaching: The pupil is able to…
-
understand why and when people started to collect ancient objects and how a
museum’s collection develops
give a rough outline of the ancient history of Styria
2) Teaching unit
Excursion to Archaeology Museum Schloss Eggenberg
Duration: 2 hrs. 30 minutes
Meeting point: Entrance to Eggenberg Schlosspark
Time: 09:30
Cognitive, methodical, affective, social competences: The pupil is able to…
-
understand the importance of religion and afterlife in antiquity
recognize differences and similarities between ancient and modern idea of man
have a basic idea how people lived in antiquity
3) Consolidation, evaluation, transfer…
Methods
-
making a criss-cross, writing reports, articles, journals…
presentation in class, before parents…
interdisciplinary treatment: mosaic technique, ancient pottery…
create a video documentary, a radio broadcast, a website…
Cognitive, methodical, affective, social competences: The pupil is able to…
-
use his knowledge of the topic to work on creative tasks
deepen his understanding of ancient life conditions using ancient techniques for
crafting objects
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Styria in ancient times
Life in Styria in ancient times – Historical Outline
In the Stone Age, more than 40,000 years ago, humans (Neanderthals) already lived in the
many caves of the Mur valley between Bruck and Graz, for example in the Repolusthöhle.
But only about 1,500 BC the first important cultural and political centers, like
Ringkogel/Hartberg and Kulm bei Weiz, developed in Styria. Later on, the Hallstatt culture
flourished. Aristocrats of this time were buried together with precious objects in large burial
mounds. You will see some of the objects in the museum. The Hallstatt culture was probably
destroyed by the nomadic Cimmerians.
About 400 BC, Celtic tribes from Southern Germany came to Styria and settled there. The
Celtic tribe of the Norici was the most important among these and founded the Noric realm on
the territory of today’s Styria and Carinthia. The Norici were famous for processing iron.
They could produce iron of an almost steel-like quality. So they were important trading
partners of the Romans, who wanted to have strong weapons.
15 BC, the Noric realm became part of the Imperium Romanum. Apparently the Norici didn’t
fight for their freedom, but rather welcomed the Romans. The main road of the new province
Noricum went from Italy straight to the Danube, crossing the Alps and modern Styria. Only
one Roman city was founded on the territory of today’s Styria, Solva (near Leibnitz). But
there were many villages and estates.
About 400 AD, Solva was destroyed by migrating tribes and never rebuilt. The people in
Noricum went to safe and secure places like mountain settlements. Then Slavic tribes from
the South migrated to the places where the other people fled from.
Lapidarium:
History
In medieval times, Roman gravestones and other stone monuments used to be re-used for
building houses, churches and castles. Sometimes beautifully carved reliefs and pillars were
left visible, but mostly all the stonework was plastered. In modern times people got interested
in ancient history again and started to collect Roman gravestones, which sometimes were
found when old churches or castles were remodeled.
Especially the old tower of Seggauberg castle (near Leibnitz and ancient Flavia Solva) was
almost entirely built from Roman gravestones! They were discovered in 1815 when the tower
was torn down. Some of them were taken to the newly founded Joanneum museum in Graz –
and you will see them now! –, some remained at Seggauberg castle and still can be seen there.
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Plan of the museum and of the stations
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1st station: Gravestones
The gravestone of L. Cantius Secundus
This is one of the largest and most impressing gravestones that were found in Austria.
TASK Find the gravestone and look at it closely.
QUESTION How many people do you think were buried in this tomb? Why do you think so?
QUESTION Can you find the dolphins? Where are they?
As the land of the dead sometimes was thought to be west across the ocean, dolphins were
expected to bring the souls of the deceased there.
TASK Have a look at the two female portraits on the gravestone. Is there anything special
about them?
In Noricum, men are usually portrayed with Roman clothing and hairstyle, whereas women
wear the traditional Celtic garments and the very special Noric bonnets. You can see the two
types on the gravestone of L. Cantius Secundus:
Example
of
a
so-called
„Modiushaube“ made of felt.
Example of a so-called „Noric bonnet“,
consisting of a turban-like wound cloth.
QUESTION Can you think of any reason why in the Roman province Noricum men usually
are depicted wearing Roman clothes, whereas women are depicted wearing Celtic clothes?
(Think of how the Romans came to Noricum! Mind that nicely-carved portrait steles as this
one were valuable and expensive and that only rich people could afford them.)
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Reading inscriptions
Even if you don’t speak Latin, you can get some information from Roman gravestones. Many
words are abbreviated in order to lower costs. Often, an inscription starts with D M, this is
“Dis Manibus”, in English “To the souls of the dead”. However, in the Archeology Museum
Schloss Eggenberg there is only one gravestone with this inscription.
TASK Find the gravestone, whose inscription starts with D M. Take down its catalogue
number.
On many gravestones you can find the age of the deceased. You can see the abbreviation AN
or ANN for the Latin word “annos”, in English “years”, followed by a number in Latin
numerals:
TASK Find the depicted gravestone and take down
its catalogue number.
QUESTION How old got the deceased?
Latin numerals were used by the Romans (and also in
medieval times) to write numbers. Sometimes they are
used even today. The values of the numerals are added
to constitute the number, for example:
XVIII = 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 =18.
LXXVI = 50 + 10 + 10 + 5 + 1 = 76.
Basic numerals: I = 1; V = 5; X = 10; L = 50;
C = 100; D = 500; M = 1000.
TASK Choose another gravestone and try to find
out, how old the deceased got!
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2nd station: Everyday life
People wanted to show on their gravestones, who they were in life and what they liked. You
can see boys with their pets, women with jewelry, mirrors and sunshades, men with tools and
scrolls and so on.
TASK Find the following items on the gravestones and take down the catalogue number.
Pearl necklace, catalogue no.
Moon pendant, catalogue no.
Sixfold wax tablet used for professional
writing, catalogue no.
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capsa (scroll
catalogue no.
container),
QUESTION Look at the reliefs in the lapidarium! Can you guess, which job some of the
depicted men had in life? Name some different professions that are shown on the gravestones.
TASK Can you find the parasol one woman carries? Does it look like a modern sunshade?
What is different?
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3rd station: Greek myths
TASK On many gravestones – and also on mosaic floors - you can find scenes from famous
Greek myths we talked about at school. Can you find the following scenes? Take down their
catalogue number. (Hint: Look also onto the mosaic floors!)
-
Europa riding on the bull
Icarus with the artificial wings
Leda with the swan
Medea riding on the snake-drawn carriage
Thetis holding her son Achilles on one heel, immersing him in the water of Styx to
make him immortal
TASK Choose which of these depicted mythical scenes you like best and draw a sketch!
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4th station: The bull-fight
In the 2nd and 3rd century A. D. a new religion found its way to Rome and to all provinces: the
secret cult of Iranian god Mithras. The most important feature in this religion was the sacrifice
of a bull. The god was said to have fought and killed a bull, and the believers had to repeat
that act. The blood of the bull was thought to clear the believers from all sins.
In every temple of Mithras, archeologists find reliefs showing the scene of the bull-fight.
They are all alike, so you know what they depict even if they are not very well preserved.
Sketch
of
the
typical
bull-fight
relief found in
temples of Mithras
QUESTION How many – not well preserved – bull-fight reliefs can you see in the
lapidarium?
QUESTION Where was the only known temple of Mithras in the territory of today’s Styria?
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Archaeology Museum
5th station: Hands made of sheet bronze (6th / 7th century B.C.)
These two hands made of bronze are from the 6 th century B.C. This Age is called “Jüngere
Hallstattzeit”.
QUESTION What’s so special about these hands? Have a close look on them!
6th station: Excurse – Egypt in ancient times
Mummies
Ancient Egypt is popular for its mummies. The two mummies, which you can see in the
museum, were given to the museum as a present and date back to the 2nd resp. 10th century
B.C.
TASK Which animals can you recognize on the mummies? What do they signify?
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Ushabtis
The small figures you see right to the
mummies are called “ushabtis” and are
made of clay or wood.
TASK Read the text regarding the ushabtis! What was the purpose of these small figures?
7th station: Repolust Cave
TASK Read the following text and fill in the missing word! = Word No. 1
The Repolust Cave is located near Peggau in the north of Graz. It is known for the almost
1,700 artifacts and bones from the ……………… Age which have been found there. This rich
archaeological material makes the Repolust Cave one of the most important ………………
cave sites in the Eastern Alps, and is evidence of the first settlement of the country by man
during the last ice age, over 40,000 years ago.
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Below is a layout plan of some of the artefacts which have been found during the excavation
campaigns in the Repolust Cave. Chert and quartz were used for producing tools for cutting,
scraping or drilling. Using the flakes and tools, materials like meat, skin, wood or bone could
subsequently be worked on.
TASK Among the Paleolithic material are two bone artefacts. Mark them in the plan!
Describe their special appearance!
Research zone
It is shown how the stones and bones must have been processed. This makes it clear that
Neanderthal man certainly had well-developed skills in abstract thinking. Finding the right
type of stone and recognizing its particular characteristics was only the start. Seeing the shape
in the stone, chipping a sharp blade out of it was the next step. Processing the edges so that
the end-product could be used as a cutting implement was a further one in man’s cognitive
development.
QUESTION Which special material was used in the Stone Age for making fire?
= Word No. 2
TASK Try to cut the provided cloth with the blade!
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8th station: Religion and worship
Kultwagen von Strettweg
QUESTION In which century was this work of art found?
TASK Count the figures and the number of women and men! Do
you recognize anything special?
QUESTION Which animals except horses are depicted?
Bronze depot from Čermožiše
TASK What kind of objects can you find? Mention
four different kinds!
QUESTION Which three interpretations are there for
the putting down of the objects in the Late Bronze
Age?
TASK Find the contemporary inscription! Write down it exactly! = Word No. 3
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9th station: War and Hunting
Negauer-Helmets (5th – 1st century B.C.)
QUESTION How many helmets can you find in the vitrine?
TASK What’s special in their appearances? Draw them!
Arrowheads (6th – 5th century B.C.)
TASK Read the following text and answer the questions!
Basically the arrowheads from this grave can be divided into double-winged and threewinged. The arrowheads with three wings predominate. This kind of arrowhead has a
pyramid-shaped body provided with three wings which ends in a mounting-spout. A small
hook is sometimes attached to the spout. The number of the found double-winged
arrowheads, which consist of two hook-shaped wings and a mounting-spout or a mountingtongue, is substantially more slightly. The arrowheads were in a spout which was made of
wickerwork and leather and had been covered with bronze nails.
Apart from the differences in the form of the arrowheads and the way, as the heads were
connected with the wooden shaft, the use of these arrow types was also different. While the
double-winged arrowheads were suited more for the hunt, because they get stuck in the
animal and lead for bleeding to death, the arrowheads with three wings are interpreted as a
weapon for the fight. Their form lends them additional striking force. So they could penetrate
protective weapons like armors and helmets.
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While the double-winged arrowheads are interpreted as local products, are the three-winged
typical weapons of the Scythians, a rider's nomadic tribe from the Black Sea region. The
findings of a Scythians characterized society in the Carpathian Mountains Basin from the 7th
century B.C. belong to the so-called “Vekerzug” culture. These groups caused with their raids
and lootings the collapse of the “Osthallstattkultur” in the 6th century B.C.
Which kind of arrowheads was used for hunting? Why?
The double-winged arrowheads were typical for one tribe/nation. What’s the name of it?
= Word No. 4
Where did they come from? = Word No. 5
Solid-hilted swords from the Bronze Age (13th – 10th century B.C.)
TASK Read the following text and answer the questions!
Most swords are water findings or were found in the larger context of consecration rituals. In
graves such swords can be found rather seldom. It is a characteristic of these swords that
beside the blade also the grip was made of bronze. The blade in from of a red-leaf or a
willow-leaf is sometimes decorated with grooves or ribs. This sword type was decorated in
the grip and the edge with different scratched and plated patterns. The blade and the grip were
made in separate downpour procedures and were connected afterwards with each other by
rivets. First the blade was produced in a downpour and then made up. Concerning the older
sword types, the grip was made with a downpour in lost form.
What’s the special feature of a solid-hilted sword?
a) It’s manufactured from just one part.
b) It is entirely made of bronze.
c) These swords can often be found in graves.
Find the contemporary inscription! = Word No. 6
What’s the color of the sword?
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10th station: Jewelry
QUESTION What materials were used for manufacturing jewelry? Mention four of them!
Necklace with emeralds
TASK Find this necklace and write down the catalogue number!
QUESTION What’s the color of the gemstones?
Amber jewelry
TASK Find the amber jewelry. Hint: It’s somewhere in the showcase.
QUESTION What’s the name of the trade route? = Word No. 7
QUESTION Where did amber come from?
a) From the western Mediterranean
b) From the coasts of the Baltic Sea
c) From the Adriatic Sea
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Ancient Brooches/ fibulas from the Roman Empire
In the Minoan civilization on Crete swastikas on vase painting appear from about 3500 B.C.
This ornamental art continued in the geometric art period of the Greek vase painting. Ever
since Alexander the Great, such symbols also appear on soldier's helmets.
In prehistoric Central Europe swastika symbols appear since the younger Bronze Age. They
are found in different forms as a decoration or ornament with goods of the everyday need,
particularly on ornaments. The symbol wasn’t only used in religious context. It also had an
ornamental function and possibly a protective function against demons.
In many areas of the Roman Empire brooches with swastika representations are found. As
mosaic ornaments they often appear in the Roman architecture.
TASK Find the two brooches in the form of a swastika! Write down their numbers!
11th station: Everyday objects
Mirrors (1st – 2nd century A.C.)
QUESTION What were mirrors made of in ancient times?
a) Quartz
b) Silver
c) Bronze
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Silberbecher von Grünau (1st century A.C.)
QUESTIONS
What’s the inner surface of the Silver Cup made of? = Word No. 8
What’s illustrated on the exterior of the cup?
How many horses can you find?
Jugs and bowls
TASK Draw an Oinochoe! What was it made for?
One of the jugs shows on the exterior a swastika.
TASK Find it!
QUESTION Where did the jug come from! = Word No. 9
Sigillata-bowl No. 1176
TASK Find the inscription and write it down!
(Keep in mind: The Romans sometimes wrote II instead of E!)
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Omphalos-bowl No. 1147
QUESTION From how many pieces has the bowl been reassembled?
Precious vessels (Zisten)
In the vitrine you can find the “Super Egg”.
TASK Stand in front of the Super Egg and count all
the Zisten and other vessels that you can see in the
reflection on it!
a) 8
b) 5
c) 3
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Criss-Cross
Across
Solution: Bring the marked letters in correct order!
1.) Word No. 5 (… Sea)
4.) Word No. 3 (Ö = OE)
8.) Word No. 4
9.) Word No. 2
Hint: museum…
Down
2.) Word No. 9
3.) Word No. 7
5.) Word No. 8
6.) Word No. 6 (S. …)
7.) Word No. 1
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Literature
Scientific literature:
E. Hudeczek, Die Römersteinsammlung des Landesmuseums Joanneum, Graz 2004.
S. Karl / G. Wrolli, Der Alte Turm im Schloss Seggau zu Leibnitz. Historische
Untersuchungen zum ältesten Bauteil der Burgenanlage Leibnitz in der Steiermark, Wien /
Berlin 2011.
Landesmuseum Joanneum GmbH, Abteilung Archäologie & Münzkabinett (Hg.),
Archäologische und numismatische Beiträge aus dem Landesmuseum Joanneum. Katalog (=
Schild von Steier 22/2009), Graz 2009.
Universalmuseum Joanneum GmbH (Hg.), Lebensspuren. Die bedeutendsten Objekte der
Archäologischen Sammlungen und des Münzkabinetts (= Schild von Steier 24/2011), Graz
2011.
Didactic literature:
U. Lagger / P. Mauritsch, Wo Steine sprechen. Ein Besuch im Lapidarium, in: IfG 2005/06,
3–21.
W. Müller, Römersteine im Schlosspark Eggenberg, in: IAU 7 (1985), 83–88.
W. Müller, Römersteine selbstgemacht, in: Ianus 12 (1991), 101–102.
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