Were the Gauls really barbarians, defined as “primitive and uncivilised”? Certainly the Roman propaganda machine would say so as do many textbooks in education today.

But The Treasure of Vix would say otherwise!

“25 centuries ago, a lavishly dressed princess is buried at the bottom of Mount Lassois. Discovered in 1953, the most prestigious princely burial from the end of the first Iron Age, 500BC, bears witness to the Antiquity still unmatched to this day. Found in her tomb the mysterious Lady of Vix was adorned with precious jewels, a gold torque, and by her side the famous bronze wine vase standing at 1.64 metres and capable of holding 1000 litres of wine.”

The vase is of Greek design and was probably made in southern Italy. It is one of thousands of finds from this area long before the battle of Alesia in which Julius Caesar finally defeated and subjugated the Gauls and partly demonstrates that there was a lifestyle and riches here greatly beyond what is commonly known. We visited Chatillon-sur-Seine on our way to Chablis and spent over an hour in the museum Tresor de Vix exploring the wealth of finds from this late Iron Age period and beyond. We’ll write a fuller post in a few days describing the tomb of the Lady of Vix and more recent archaeology from the 17th Century.

Categories: Photography

Tags: 30 day blogging, 30 day challenge, Iron Age, Lady of Vix, memories, personal challenge, personal life, photochallenge, Photography, photostories, themindfulcamera, travel tales, Treasure of Vix, Tresor de Vix, Vix