The Celts revered the wild boar, especially the male, for its courage and fighting strength. In antiquity, therefore, they created small statuettes depicting the boar, and more than 100 different finds are known today.
The historical model of this Celtic boar-shaped pendant comes from the Latin culture. The original figurine was discovered in the Bibracte oppidum, which was the capital of the Gaulish tribe of Haed from the late 2nd century to the end of the 1st century B.C. This oppidum is also the site of the Battle of Bibracte, where in 58 B.C. Caesar and his Roman legions defeated a Celtic army led by Vercingetorig.
- Dimensions of the amulet: 3 × 2 × 0.6 cm
- Material: high quality bronze
- Included: black leather strap
In addition to the pendant, the boar figurine can also be used as a cult object on the altar, as it stands alone.
The symbolism and historical significance of the boar among the Celts
The boar was a respected hunting animal in Celtic culture, symbolizing formidable courage in battle. This is reflected not only in Celtic statues, but also in the stamped decoration on the blades of Celtic swords and helmets, where boars were depicted with their backs raised.
Depictions of wild boars are among the most common bronze figurines of the Celts, with more than a hundred examples surviving. These representations have undergone a typological evolution from the wild, aggressive boar to the more peaceful domestic pig. Most Celtic boar figurines have been found as single scattered finds in settlement layers dating between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC.
The roots of Celtic figurative representations of boars are to be sought in Etruscan art. At the end of the 5th century BC there appeared the so-called Bibracte-Luncani type, where Celtic boar figures are characterized by an aggressive stance and a distinctly raised dorsal crest.
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