Magical Signs in Prehistory: Near Eastern Celestial Symbols in the Ancient Carpathian Basin

Abstract

Among the Bronze Age jewelry of the Carpathian Basin, there are ­several pendants which bear significant symbols whose nearest analogies can be found among the Near Eastern emblems of celestial divinities. This study suggests that these symbols can be identified with the sign(s) of Ishtar/Astarte, the most popular goddess of the Near East, who must, by then, have been the personification of the bright planet Venus. These strong similarities support the idea of a particular connection, in this instance, with ancient Syria. Trade connections between the Baltic and ancient Syria are also evidenced by the prestige amber artifacts which were discovered in the kings’ tombs dated to 1340 bc in Syria (Mukherjee et al. 2008). The raw material of Baltic amber used by local craftsmen may have been transported to the port of Ugarit, crossing the Carpathian Basin along the “Amber Route” and into ancient Greece. This Venus symbol might already have been known from earlier times as it is also sparsely represented on Neolithic finds. The motif seems to be strongly related to the Near Eastern belief system, in particular, to beliefs relating to fertility and protection. The crop protective role of this sign is proved by its application in plastic form on the inner side of the bottom of large vessels containing corn. This symbol has deeply permeated the beliefs of the people living in the Carpathian Basin. There is no period in history up until the present day when it has not been used.