Pásztor Emília (szerk.): A fény régészete. A természetes fény szerepe az őskori ember életében - Bajai dolgozatok 20. (Baja, 2017)
Pásztor Emília: A bronzkori fényszimbolizmus
A Nebra-korongon található ábrázolások értelmezése az égi jelenségek segítségével. The interpretation of Nebra disc with celestial phenomena. Perhaps, this is the unique light (atmospheric) phenomenon that appears among many decorative motifs on Bronze Age objects/artifacts. Figure 10 One of the most convincing examples is a double handled clay jar from the classic vucedol culture in the Early Bronze Age (BC 3000-2500) which has a rayed rhombus surrounded by four side-suns on its surface (Pásztor 2017, Fig. 7). The rhombus shape comes from the fact that the sun in the centre of complex sun halos usually distorts into a rhombus. Perhaps, any rhombus depiction or rhombus shaped archaeological artefact also represents the Sun. It was also often depicted as a rhombus in the middle of the sun-cross in the centre of Saami (Lapp) shaman drums. Figure 11 Probably side-suns and light circles inspired a motif called the 'sun ark' by archaeologists which was a typical, probably religious, symbol of the Late Bronze Age urn-field culture (BC 1100-800). This symbol depicts a sun enclosed by two waters birds backstroking each other. The same sun symbol decorates a large bronze ritual vessel called szitula' which is one of the best known artefacts of the Hajdúböszörmény treasure. Figure 12 Orbs and atmospheric optical signals can also be found on special objects which don't represent one symbol, but symbolize ensembles reflecting the mind-set/world view of the creators. The most famous example is a bronze disc decorated with gold plated forms of orbs and celestial phenomena found on Mountain Mittelberg near the German village, Nebra. Perhaps, the Sun, the Crescent Moon, the arc of a rainbow, the Pleiades and the golden rays at the eastern and western horizon - which precede the morning sun or follow sunset - can be seen on the disc. The rest of the gold spots meant to demonstrate the starlit night sky (Pásztor 2014) Figure 13 There are numerous artifacts in the Carpathian Basin that can rival the Nebra disc both in beauty and scientific value . For example, the Hungarian National Museum exhibits an exquisite golden armband found in Dunavecse. Its surface is decorated with rich motifs and symbols which probably represent, just like shaman drums, natural elements important for Bronze Age communities. There are two decorated suns at the junction of the tendril-like endings which might symbolize the curve of the crescent moon. Several atmospheric phenomena can be identified 137
