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Celtic Hero from Bohemia

Celtic Hero from Bohemia is the male sculpted head from Mšecké Žehrovice, dated to around 150–50 BC. It was found at the Viereckschanze site in Mšecké Žehrovice, about 65 km northwest of Prague in the Czech Republic. Made of marl, it is one of the best-known works of Celtic art from the Iron Age in Europe and, alongside the Prince of Glauberg and the Warrior of Hirschlanden, one of the few large representations of a human figure in this culture. After its discovery in 1943, it became one of the most photographed, reproduced, and published objects of the La Tène period. It is preserved in the National Museum in Prague under inventory number 111938.

Mšecké Žehrovice Head, a carved stone head with stylized eyes, a prominent nose, and patterned hair and cheek details.
The Mšecké Žehrovice Head is an ancient stone sculpture with stylized facial features and decorative carved details.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mšecké Žehrovice Head showing a carved stone face with oval eyes, a curled mustache, and a braided headdress.
The Mšecké Žehrovice Head, a carved Celtic stone face with stylized features and a prominent neck ring.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mšecké Žehrovice Head with carved eyes, nose, and hairstyle on a dark stand.
The Mšecké Žehrovice Head, a weathered stone sculpture with distinctive carved facial features.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mšecké Žehrovice Head stone sculpture with stylized eyes, ridged hair, and a torque around the neck.
The Mšecké Žehrovice Head, a Celtic stone sculpture shown under dramatic lighting.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mšecké Žehrovice Head stone sculpture shown in profile on a black stand, with stylized facial features and ribbed hair bands.
The Mšecké Žehrovice Head, a stone sculpture of a stylized human head, shown in profile on display.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleCeltic Hero from Bohemia
Alternative nameThe Mšecké Žehrovice Head
Alternative nameThe Celtic Hero
Object typeAnthropomorphic stone head sculpture
Alternative nameHead of Mšecké Žehrovice

Historical context

Datec. 150–50 BC
Cultural periodLa Tène period
Art traditionCeltic art of the European Iron Age

Creator

DiscovererJosef Šlajchrt

Discovery and provenance

Dating of associated featureLate La Tène period LT C2-D1, approximately 150–50 BC
Transfer to museumIn 1952, Šlajchrt handed the head over to the Prague National Museum after it had been hidden during the German occupation to prevent confiscation
Missing fragmentsThe right side of the head, including the upper part of the ear, has not yet been found; possibly more than one fragment is missing
Condition when foundBroken into at least five pieces in antiquity; four fragments have been found in fairly good condition
Dating supportBurned animal bones and pottery sherd typology
Discovery contextFound during an excavation of an oppidum; buried in a pit in the southwest corner of a square enclosure
OriginMšecké Žehrovice
Associated findsBurned animal bones, pottery sherds, pieces of saprolite, a piece of iron wire, remains of a hearth, bones, jet bracelets, and a large animal tooth
Associated archaeological contextVotive pit
Discovery locationA sand pit 500 meters south of the village of Mšecké Žehrovice, within a double Viereckschanze/oppidum site in Central Bohemia, Czech Republic
Discovery date19 May 1943

Location and ownership

International exhibitionsVenice (1991), Rosenheim (1993), Tokyo (1998), Avila (2001), and Bern (2009)
Public display in the Czech RepublicThe original was publicly exhibited only three times: in 1958, 2008, and 2011
Replica locationA copy is on display in the Prague National Museum
Inventory number111938
Current locationNové Strašecí Museum
CollectionNational Museum in Prague

Physical characteristics

Height23.4 cm
Width17.4 cm

Materials

MaterialLocal Cretaceous limestone (marlstone / Plänerkalkstein, chalk limestone)

Appearance

MoustacheCurved moustache
Neck ornamentTorc
EarsNon-naturalistic, represented as lotus buds
MouthSuggested by a single downward line
EyebrowsCurved eyebrows
EyesOval, bulging eyes
HairBraided hair with a shaved tonsure at the back of the head
Facial styleHeavily stylized facial features projected on an almost flat surface

Technique

Stylistic traditionA stylized form representative of La Tène art

Iconography and meaning

Interpretation of depicted figureThought to represent a druid or another high-ranking person based on the tonsure and moustache
Comparative referenceA similar torc appears on the second-century BC sculpture of the Dying Gaul from Pergamon

Significance

Notable statusOne of the best-known works of Celtic art from Iron Age Europe
Comparative significanceTogether with the Prince of Glauberg and the Warrior of Hirschlanden, one of the few large representations of a human figure in this culture
ReceptionAfter its discovery, it became one of the most photographed, reproduced, and published objects of the La Tène period
Later statusBecame an icon of Celtic Europe
Iconographic interpretationIts carved head became a prototype of the 'barbarian' in Europe
Publication useIts image appeared on the covers of many scholarly and popular publications on the European Iron Age