Archaeologists from the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University found a bronze belt buckle from 8th-century AD that depicts a predator, either a dragon or snake, devouring a frog. It was discovered near Lány u Břeclavi, approximately 20 miles west of Prague, which may signify a mysterious pagan cult.
Medieval Belt Buckle Discovery Unveils Pagan Cult Connection Across Central Europe in Early Middle Ages
Initially believed to be a unique design, the bronze belt buckle depicting a serpent or dragon devouring a frog-like creature has led archaeologists to discover almost identical artifacts in Germany, Hungary, and other Czech locations over the past twelve years.
According to Jiří Macháček, an archaeologist from Masaryk University, this common motif in Germanic, Avar, and Slavic mythology suggests the existence of an unrecognized pagan cult that spiritually connected various regions of Central Europe in the early Middle Ages.
The research, titled "Copper-alloy belt fittings and elite networking in Early Medieval Central Europe" published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, delves into the medieval belt buckle and three similar ones found in Germany and Hungary, employing advanced techniques such as X-ray fluorescence analysis, scanning electron microscopy, lead isotope analysis, and 3D digital morphometry.
Stefan Eichert of the Natural History Museum in Vienna conducted material analysis, revealing that these bronze fittings were originally heavily gilded and crafted using the lost-wax casting method.
Ernst Pernicka from the University of Tübingen, employing a chemical analysis of lead isotopes, identified a common source of copper for all fittings - copper mined in the Slovak Ore Mountains, used in the production of Avar bronzes.
Vojtěch Nosek of Masaryk University, conducting a morphometric analysis based on 3D digital models, suggested that some of the belt buckles may share a common origin, possibly stemming from the same workshop or model.
Published with support from the EXPRO grant of the Czech Science Foundation, these findings contribute valuable insights into ancient symbolism and craftsmanship, providing a deeper understanding of cultural connections in Central Europe during the early Middle Ages.
Paganism Explained
"Pagan" comes from the Latin word "paganus," referring to rural people in contrast to city dwellers. As Christianity gained dominance in the Roman Empire, urban residents embraced the new faith, distinguishing themselves from rural inhabitants who adhered to traditional beliefs, earning them the label of pagans.
Paganism, broadly defined as religious acts outside major faiths, or simply the absence of religion, often shares a belief in the divine within nature and reverence for life's natural order.
In its strictest sense, paganism encompasses the authentic religions of ancient Greece and Rome with polytheistic beliefs. The Renaissance reintroduced pagan concepts in the 1500s, and the Enlightenment in the 1700s revived these ideas, laying the foundation for contemporary pagan traditions.
Modern paganism, rooted in diverse traditions from ancient and 19th-century beliefs, gained momentum in the 1960s and 70s, aligning with ecological and feminist movements that viewed nature as sacred.
American pagan religions today blend Celtic, Greco-Roman, Native American, ancient Egyptian, and Norse traditions, reflecting a spectrum of perspectives shaped by both ancient and modern influences. Paganism remains a dynamic movement, drawing inspiration from nature and adapting to contemporary beliefs and societal changes.
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