Mysterious gold cones 'hats of ancient wizards'

Telegraph UK ^ | St Patrrick's Day, 2002 | Tony Paterson in Berlin

[SunkenCiv]

The wizards of early Europe wore hats of gold intricately embellished with astrological symbols that helped them to predict the movement of the sun and stars...

...Wilfried Menghin, the director of the Berlin Museum... carrying out detailed research on a 3,000-year-old 30in high Bronze Age cone of beaten gold that was discovered in Switzerland in 1995...

...discovered that the 1,739 sun and half-moon symbols decorating the Berlin cone's surface make up a scientific code which corresponds almost exactly to the "Metonic cycle" discovered by the Greek astronomer Meton in 432bc - about 500 years after the cone was made -- which explains the relationship between moon and sun years.

"The symbols on the hat are a logarithmic table which enables the movements of the sun and the moon to be calculated in advance," Mr Menghin said...

Another cone, found near the German town of Schifferstadt in 1835, had a chin strap attached to it. The cone, which is also studded with sun and moon symbols, is the earliest example found and dates back to 1,300bc.

Other German archaeologists have suggested that the gold-hatted king-priests were to be found across much of prehistoric Europe. Prof Sabine Gerloff, a German archaeologist from Erlangen University, has found evidence that five similar golden cones were exhumed by peat diggers in Ireland during the 17th and 18th centuries.

These objects, described at the time as "vases", have disappeared. Prof Gerloff says, however, that her research suggests almost conclusively that they were hats worn by Bronze Age king-priests.

She is also convinced that a Bronze Age cape of beaten gold - the "Gold Cape of Mold" discovered in Wales in 1831 - was part of a king-priest's ceremonial dress.

[SunkenCiv]

The Mold Cape, found in Wales and the four gold hats look as if they belong together. The cape and hats were all made from a single sheet of gold, and all share a similar pattern of decoration. The cape dates from about 1900-1600 BCE, and the hats date from 1400-800 BCE Despite the time difference between the hats and the cape, the similarities indicate a shared culture and knowledge. [Jaunting Jen 'blog, pic attributed to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_cape]

[SunkenCiv]

http://jauntingjen.com/four-gold-hats-a-bronze-age-mystery/

http://etc.ancient.eu/education/four-gold-hats-a-bronze-age-mystery/

Amateurs Find Bronze Age Treasure Trove (Starmap)
Scotsman.com | 3-7-2002 | Allan Hall
Posted on 3/8/2002 9:22:51 AM by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/642737/posts

Barbarians Get Sophisticated (Nebra “Sky Disk”)
US News | 11-16-2003 | Andrew Curry
Posted on 11/16/2003 11:25:46 AM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1022905/posts

Earliest Depiction Of A Rainbow Found
Discovery News | 12-21-2004 | Jennifer Viegas
Posted on 12/22/2004 1:12:25 PM by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1306723/posts

Nebra sky disk discarded because of volcanic ash, scientists say By Aug 23, 2010, 15:49 GMT
Deutsche Presse-Agentur | Monday, August 23, 2010 | Thomas Schoene
Posted on 8/23/2010 7:41:32 PM by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2576182/posts

[arrogantsob]

That is one of the most beautiful objects I have ever seen.

[rfp1234]

[SunkenCiv]

I wholeheartedly agree.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nebraskydisk/index

[Ken H]

Gold is heavy. I wonder how much they weighed.

[SunkenCiv]

I'd venture the guess that they only wore the hat while seated and ready to prognosticate, otherwise it was in their luggage.

[alexander_busek]

Gold is heavy.

What weighs more: One pound of gold or one pound of feathers?

Regards,

[robowombat]

So that is the origin of the conical hates decorated with zodiac signs that sorcerers are always depicted as wearing. Those condemned to the flames at Auto-de-Fe’s also wore conical paper hats decorated with pictures of Satan and flames. A connection would seem suggested as wizardry was a mortal sin and heretical.

[equaviator]

"The wizards of early Europe wore hats of gold intricately embellished with astrological symbols that helped them to predict the movement of the sun and stars"

No, a hat of gold did not help them or anyone else predict the movement of the sun and stars but if they were alive today they'd still want you to believe it did.

[wastoute]

Exactly. Humans have always believed words can control reality. Global Warming, fer instance.

[drpix]

The article's lack of photo(s) was a major shortcoming. I believe these are the hats:

Impressive!

[Hot Tabasco]

The wizards of early Europe wore hats... embellished with astrological symbols

[Duchess47]

Thank you for the photo, I was trying to figure out how to find one of the hats.

Very impressive.

[ckilmer]

I’m reading an interesting book called Discovery of Middle Earth by Graham Robb.

Its a story of the celts. The book ties them to the ancient greeks. their gods were very similiar. Hercules was central to them. the druids were not just a blood sacrifice cult. they were also hugely scientific. their astronomical formulas were much similar to the hats mentioned here. julius caesar was able to easily make his way through gaul and england because the roads were all already neatly laid out.

the interesting thing here is that this books dates the celtic civilization to only about 600 bc. they were invaders who mixed with the locals. (unlike the germans who had lived in the forests for a long time.)

these discoveries make it sound like the locals were already pretty advanced when the celts arrived

[tarheelswamprat]

Those hats also look a lot like Sumerian shems. The article and comments here focused mainly on the astrological signs and figures on them, but not so much on their shapes.

[I-ambush]

That photo didn’t come from an adult products catalog?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Feathers is heavier, Gold is measured in “troy” oz. (12 oz =1 lb)which is lighter than feathers (16 oz=1 lb).