Raibacher picture
The so-called Raibach picture is an anthropomorphic sandstone stele from Celtic times , which was found near Breuberg - Rai-Breitenbach in the Hessian Odenwald . It is now in the Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt . A copy is exhibited in the Breuberg Museum at Breuberg Castle .
Find
The stele was discovered in 1919 as an individual find in the Princely Erbach forest district on the Obersberg south of Rai-Breitenbach, without any connection to the findings . The archaeologist Eduard Anthes was only shown the find after it had been stored in the basement of a forester's house for some time. According to the statements of the foresters, it was originally discovered in a shallow heap (about 30 m³) under a layer of moss that had been partially prepared for road construction. The lower part of the stele was already broken off and lost at this point. Anthes initially thought the find was a Slavic sculpture.
description
The upper part of the picture is 45 cm high. It consists of red Odenwald sandstone . Out of the flat stone, an uncovered head with eyes, nose and mouth with slightly drooping corners of the mouth, a broad neck and rather clumsy arms were carved out. Three grooves on the right forearm could indicate jewelry or clothing.
classification
Based on comparative finds in southern Germany, especially the warrior from Hirschlanden , a dating to the Hallstatt or Latène period is assumed. There is still a similarity to the Bamberg idols or the Celtic prince from Glauberg . However, even more recent dates cannot be ruled out.
literature
- Eduard Anthes : Sculpture from the Odenwald. In: Germania 4, 1920, pp. 37-39.
- Hartmut Heusel: The prehistory and early history of Rai-Breitenbach . In: City of Breuberg (ed.): 1200 years of Rai-Breitenbach 798–1998. Breuberg, 1997 pp. 71-82.
- Albrecht Jockenhövel : Breuberg-Rai-Breitenbach ERB. Anthropomorphic stele. In: Fritz-Rudolf Herrmann / Albrecht Jockenhövel: The prehistory of Hesse. Konrad Theiss Verlag, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN 3-8062-0458-6 , p. 332.