Odd hexagonal Dacian mold

It is heartwarming to read that archaeological excavations are still ongoing at the site of Sarmizegetusa Regia in Romania. 

The old capital was a stronghold situated at an elevation of 1200 meters and built over five terraces. It contained a separate ceremonial zone, a residential area, and a fortress serving state and civic matters. 

The largest Dacian sanctuaries occupied the ceremonial quarter with several temples and a circular sanctuary delimited by a set of wooden posts in the shape of the letter D. This was, in turn, surrounded by a circle of wooden posts, which sat inside a line of curb stone used for astronomical observations or perhaps even as a solar calendar. 

In my earlier blog about Dacia (see: Dacia before Alexander), I mentioned the artistry of this country’s artisans. My praise was undoubtedly not exaggerated, considering the highly complex bronze mold unearthed in 2013. When a tree on the site collapsed after a storm, the mold was discovered entangled in its roots. 

It has been established that a Dacian jeweler created this octagonal matrix during the 1st century BC to produce decorative mythological figures made from precious metals. As such, it is the only one of its kind in Europe. 

What makes it so unique is that it contains a whole series of molds of real animals, including a lion, tiger, leopard, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, bear, boar, bull, wolf, antelope, and rabbit. There also are mythological animals, such as a vulture-griffin, a lion-griffin, and a wolf-griffin. 

This eight-kilogram matrix is 5 cm thick and has been described as having eight facets, two of which are hexagonal. Expert analysis has revealed that the images confirm Dacia’s close links with the Mediterranean and Pontic regions. 

Given the importance of this mold, authorities have decided to exhibit it in a separate secured room at the Dacian and Roman Civilization Museum in Deva. Here, visitors can look closely at the animals depicted on the matrix. Deva is some 400 km northwest of Bucharest and roughly 60 km north of Sarmizegetuza. 

Prior to this find, a sophisticated, more than 2000-year-old calendar was discovered. The Dacian calendar counted 365.242197 days in a year, which beats the ancient Mayan calendar by 12 seconds. Our modern Gregorian calendar counts 365.2425 days in a year. 

Well, so much for the knowledge of people in antiquity!

[Pictures from eutimes.net]