Ancient Celtic Votive Axe Head Offering to the Gods! c. 1000 BC--500 BC!

Description

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
Artifacts, Antiques & Fine Collect
i
bles
Ancient Ritual Celtic Axe Head
Celtic Votive Offering to the Gods
c. 1000—500 BC
Item:
Ancient Celtic Votive Axe Head
Material: Pottery
Est. Date:
c. 1000 BC—500 BC
Weight:
2.8 oz. (80 gr.)
Length:
2.7" (70 mm)
Width:
1.6" (40 mm)
Provenance: Found near Ternopil, Ukraine, in the Carpathian Basin
DETAILS
This rare, early Votive Celtic axe head was molded from clay and fired approximately 2,500 years-ago.
Even small, ritual axes such as this one were thought to be immensely powerful to ward off evil spirits and to grant wishes.
The greatest number of recorded offerings were promised or given to the gods as thankfulness for favors bestowed or intelligently anticipated, while other offerings were offered due to fear.
{
Source: Acropolis Museum in Athens
}
Because of this association with power, many bronze items were buried with their owners or makers, while pottery items were tossed into rivers and marshes as votive offerings.
This small, pottery, votive axe head has a wonderful patina of green algae and white minerals (largely calcium) that strongly suggests it was thrown into a river or presented to the gods at a temple/oracle over 2,500 years-ago.
Small axes were never toys for children, and instead were only found in the tombs of kings and warriors or as votive gifts at oracles and temples.
{
See Acropolis Museum in Athens}
Greatest number of recorded offerings were promised or given as thankfulness for favors bestowed or intelligently anticipated, others were offered due to fear.
The discovery and sale of such artifacts from this era is always a cause for excitement, and to find such items of beautifully preserved votive items on the market is quite momentous.
While bronze, votive axes are more common, ones made of pottery are extremely rare as the clay pottery can rapidly deteriorate in water if not fired at a high enough temperature.
Ancient Greek Votive Axe Head
Small Axe Dedicated to the Temple Gods
In ancient Greece, the practice of dedicating objects to deities was common.
It appears to have been a natural outcome of gratitude for the benefits received by a person who asked for a god’s assistance. The dedicated objects could be large or small, depending upon the nature of the request.
For example, the nine archons at Athens took an oath upon entering the office that they would dedicate a gold statue at Delphi that was equal in size to them if they transgressed the laws.
Gold, jewels, statutes, silver, bronze offerings or even a small as a piece of terracotta pottery could be offered to the gods.
Archeologists believe that the ancient Greeks thought the gods would be more likely to grant their wish or request if the applicant for their benefits promised something of value in return—an offering. The Romans had a phrase “
voti reus
” that means “condemned to pay a vow” once a prayer had been granted by the gods.
Temple officials would inventory and catalog these votive objects and in the case of precious metals would record the weight of each item or the number of jewels in a necklace.
Possible offering to Zeus or to Ares, the God of War.
Price & Value
Each object I sell is professionally researched, translated (if I can...(smile), and compared with similar objects in the collections of the finest museums in the world.
I have been dealing in fine antiquities for over 45 years and although certainly not an expert in every field, I have been honored to appraise, buy, collect, and enjoy and recently sell some of the finest ancient art in the world.
When in doubt, I have worked with dozens of subject matter experts to determine the condition and authenticity of numerous antiquities and antiques.
This careful examination helps to insure you are buying quality items and helps to protect your investment.
There are many modern reproductions or "fakes" on the market today, so be sure and buy only from experts in the field.
Please examine the photos taken at 4x macro carefully as they are part of the description.
The AA battery and the stand are not part of the auction, just included to give you a better perspective.
And please ask any questions before you buy.
Thanks for looking and I'm always happy to combine shipping to save you even more money.
Note:
Please ask any questions you may have before you bid!  Thanks for Looking!
Per e-Bay's rules, PayPal only please!
THANKS!
US Buyers only please!
FREE SHIPPING & Insurance included for all 50 United States. Battle Axe Ancient Rare Iron Authentic Viking Kievan Rus - 644 g - 23 cm