The discovery of a unique portrait of Alexander the Great in a strange place stunned archaeologists

The image of an ancient conqueror was found on a Danish island by two amateurs

Two amateur archaeologists made a unique discovery near Ringsted on the Danish island of Zealand. This is a sign that one of the greatest commanders in history was known in these parts — a bronze miniature with a portrait of Alexander the Great was found.

Photo: Museum Vestsjælland

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the greatest military leader of antiquity, whose empire stretched from Greece to India, when he died in Babylon at the age of just 32. He remained a legend for many hundreds of years after his death and served as an excellent example for the Roman emperors, notes the Arkeonews website. Especially for the tyrant emperor Caracalla (198-217 AD), who considered himself the reincarnation of Alexander the Great. During the reign of Caracalla at Illerup Odal, a great battle took place near Skanderborg, in which two German armies clashed.

The battle claimed many lives, and the remaining swords, bows, arrows, spears and shields were sacrificed to the gods and thrown into the lake. During excavations in the lake, shields were discovered decorated with tiny decorative disks with images of warriors. One of these decorative discs depicts a portrait of Alexander the Great, which is identical to the portrait on the recently discovered Ringsted frame. The frame from Illerup is on display at the Moesgard Museum.

The miniature, 26-28 mm in diameter, is cast from a bronze alloy containing lead. This is an image of Alexander the Great, who is easily recognized by his wavy locks of hair and ram's horns on his ears (which he received in honor of the god Zeus-Ammon).

”This is a unique find in Scandinavia, associated with one of the most famous personalities in world history,” says Frirk Oldenburger, an archaeologist at the Westsjælland Museum.

Oldenburger explained that the artifacts were made around 200 AD, during an era called the Roman Iron Age.

The find was especially exciting for Finn Ibsen and Lars Danielsen, the two amateur archaeologists who made it. At first glance, the two researchers did not recognize the man with wavy hair on top of his head and curled ram's horns on the sides of his face.

Two detector operators said: “In fact, it was only when we handed over the find and later received a call from Frirk Oldenburger that the story came to light. It is said that going back 2,000 years is causing great excitement.

However, the find raises more questions than specific knowledge and clinical research can answer.

Archaeologists do not know exactly what the function was Ringsted's bronze device: was it a staple – a decorative disc for a shield or was it a clip for a sword (or belt)? Was it cast by the Romans, who used the same lead alloy to cast figurines, was it cast by the Romans from a melted down figurine, or was the melting down in Zealand? If the object was cast by the Romans, how did it end up on the field near Ringsted? What did the portrait of Alexander the Great mean to the Germans who lived in Denmark around 200? Did they think that a portrait could bring good luck on the battlefield?

Many questions increase the beauty and unique value of the find and undoubtedly prompt experts to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding it, Arkeonews states.