Priceless Great Moravia finds displayed in Modrá Treasury
Rare archaeological finds from the era of Great Moravia, including an ivory vessel believed to have been brought to the region by Saints Cyril and Methodius, are now on display at the Archaeological Museum in Modrá in the Zlín region. The new exhibition in the site’s treasury presents some objects that have never before been exhibited.
In bulletproof glass cases, visitors can admire more than 200 exhibits, mainly from the 8th and 9th centuries. According to the exhibition’s curator and archaeologist Luděk Galuška, they are connected with the life of the Great Moravian elite and the beginnings of Christianity in Moravia and western Slovakia.
“We have earrings, necklaces, weapons such as swords and axes, so-called pectoral crosses and even rarer processional crosses. We also have evidence of literacy in the form of styluses, writing tools and remains of Byzantine lighting lamps. There are also objects representing the architecture of Great Moravia,” he added.
The exhibition also features an exceptional collection of gilded bronze plaques depicting Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and angels.
Several rare finds from Slovakia were transported to Modrá under strict security. Among them is an ivory vessel –a so-called pyx - discovered by archaeologists in the village of Čierne Kľačany. Matej Ruttkay, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, explains its function and significance.
“A pyx is an ivory vessel, a small container that in antiquity was used to store precious objects. In this case it was used as a reliquary. According to all indications, this is an object brought by Constantine, Methodius and Gothard as a gift to Prince Rastislav when they arrived in Great Moravia.”
The exhibition also includes five models of no longer existing Great Moravian churches that once stood in Uherské Hradiště-Sady, Staré Město, Mikulčice and near the archaeological open-air museum in Modrá.
The displayed artefacts come from the collections of several museums, archaeological and heritage institutes and private individuals.
Jiří Mitáček, head of the Archaeological Museum in Modrá, says that hosting the exhibition is a huge honour.
“This unique space allows us to display absolute treasures. These are often objects loaned only for exceptional exhibitions abroad, for example to the Vatican. My colleagues and I have tried to bring here a number of new finds that visitors can see for the very first time,” he added.
The exhibition will run until November 29 in the underground exhibition space known as the Treasury of Great Moravia.
The Archaeological Open-Air Museum in Modrá is a reconstructed fortified settlement from the 9th century Great Moravia era. Visitors can wander through the dwellings, workshops and farm buildings constructed on the bases on real archaeological findings, some of which were unearthed right on the premises.
Related
-
The 10 Czech museums you should visit
Radio Prague International has selected 10 Czech museums that you may not necessarily find in your guidebooks.
