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Monday, January 2, 2012

The Vix Krater

This is really amazing!1 I am reading Hugh Johnson's 1989 published book called Vintage: The Story of Wine, my interest in reading his book, is to learn how wine became established in France. I'm not finished reading the book, but I had to share the photo that I saw on page 40. In 1953, a discovery was made in the vast plateau of Mont Lassois, the grave of a 6th century BC Celtic princess. Found in the grave of the Celtic princess was this vase or krater, identified as being a wine-mixing bowl in the finest bronze, standing seven feet high, having a capacity of 1200 liters! The vase was brought to Vix either from southern Italy or Greece in pieces and assembled.2
A very good article found here, Ophiuchus, states that the Vix Krater is the finest example of Greek Bronze work that exists in the world today.
In 2009, the vase was transported to the newly built museum in the town of Châtillon-sur-Seine. There is a YouTube clip showing the transportation of the Vix Krater to the new museum.3
An excellent article with further details regarding the discovery of the Vix Krater can be found here: New York Times---Greek Treasure in France, published in April, 1984.
1.Vase de Vix à visiter au musée
2. Vintage: The Story of Wine
3. Transfert du Vase de Vix - France 3 Bourgogne (20/05/2009)

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