Carnyx

Carnyx
The carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts, used
between c. 200 BC and c. AD 200. It was a type of bronze
trumpet with an elongated S shape, held so that the long straight
central portion was vertical and the short mouthpiece end section
and the much wider bell were horizontal in opposed directions.
The bell was styled in the shape of an open-mouthed boar's, or
other animal's, head.
It was used in warfare, probably to incite troops to battle and Carnyx from the recently discovered
intimidate opponents, as Polybius recounts. The instrument's Tintignac group
significant height allowed it to be heard over the heads of the

participants in battles or
ceremonies.
Contents
Etymology
Historical record
Archaeology
Depiction in
sculpture
Literature Three carnyx players are depicted at right on plate E of the Gundestrup
Objects from cauldron.
Tintignac
Other objects
Modern
reconstructions
Gallery of
reconstructions and
reenactors
In film
See also
Notes
References
External links
Etymology
The word "carnyx" is derived from the Gaulish root, "carn-" or "cern-" meaning "antler" or "horn," and
the same root of the name of the god, Cernunnos.[1]
Historical record
Archaeology
Until 2004, fragments of only five carnyces had been preserved,
from modern Scotland, France, Germany, Romania and
Switzerland, but in 2004 archaeologists discovered a first-
century-BC deposit at Tintignac in Corrèze, France.
The serpent head from Tintignac In September 2004, over 500 fragments of iron and bronze
objects were discovered in a Gallic pit. The objects included a
dozen swords and scabbards, iron spearheads, a shield, ten bronze
helmets and an iron bird, 2 animal heads, one animal body, a cauldron, and seven Carnyces, one of which
is almost complete. These unique military and religious objects are currently being studied by Christophe
Maniquet’s team, and are in the process of conservation and restoration by the Materia Viva laboratory in
Toulouse.
Four of the carnyces had boar's heads, the fifth appears to be a serpent-like monster; they appear to
represent a ritual deposit dating to soon after the Roman conquest of Gaul.[2] The Tintignac finds enabled
some fragments found in northern Italy decades before to be identified in 2012 as coming from a
carnyx.[3]
The only example from the British Isles is the Deskford Carnyx, found at the farm of Leitchestown,
Deskford, Banffshire, Scotland in 1816. Only the boar's head bell survives, also apparently placed as a
ritual deposit. It was donated to Banff Museum, and is now on loan from Aberdeenshire Museums
Service to the Museum of Scotland. The location and age of the Deskford Carnyx suggests the instrument
had a peaceful, ceremonial use and was not only used in warfare.
Before 2004 this was the best surviving example, and generally copied in earlier reconstructions.[4] The
Deskford find was made almost entirely of brass, a metal used almost exclusively by the Romans, and
strictly controlled by them. Further, the basic size and shape of the Deskford find suggests it may in fact
have been a Roman military draco standard.
Depiction in sculpture
The instrument is known from depictions on coins and reliefs, notably from Trajan's Column and the so-
called initiation scene of the Gundestrup cauldron.
Literature
The name is known from textual sources, carnyces are reported from the Celtic attack on the Delphi in
279 BC, as well as from Julius Caesar's campaign in Gaul and Claudius' invasion of Britain. Diodorus
Siculus around 60-30 BC said (Histories, 5.30):
"Their trumpets again are of a peculiar barbarian kind; they blow into them and produce a
harsh sound which suits the tumult of war"
Objects from Tintignac

Objects found at Tintignac were exhibited at the 2012 exhibition "Les Gaulois, une expo renversante"
(The Gauls, a stunning exhibition).
Carnyx of Tintignac, A Carnyx found at A Carnyx found at Casque in the shape

discovered in Tintignac. Tintignac. the head of a bird,
Corrèze, France. found at Tintignac.
Evocation of a Gallic
ceremony in the
sanctuary of
Tintignac.
Other objects
The Leichestown The Leichestown Piece from a carnyx
Deskford carnyx & Deskford carnyx
reconstruction, head
Museum of Scotland
Modern reconstructions
The reconstruction of the Deskford Carnyx was initiated by Dr. John Purser, and commenced in 1991
funded jointly by the Glenfiddich Living Scotland award and the National Museums of Scotland. In
addition to John Purser as musicologist, the team comprised the archaeologist Fraser Hunter, silversmith
John Creed, and trombonist John Kenny. After 2,000 years of silence the reconstructed Deskford Carnyx
was unveiled at the National Museum of Scotland in April 1993.
In 1993 Kenny became the first person to play the carnyx in 2,000 years, and has since lectured and
performed on the instrument internationally, in the concert hall, on radio, television, and film. There are
numerous compositions for the carnyx and it is featured on seven CDs. On 15 March 2003 he performed
solo to an audience of 65,000 in the Stade De France in Paris.
On 15 June 2017 "The Music of the Forest", a specially commissioned work by Lakeland composer,
Christopher Gibbs, featuring a reconstructed carnyx, received its world premiere at Slaidburn Village
Hall. The four-part song cycle evoked the landscape and history of the Forest of Bowland and was
performed by the Renaissance Singers of Blackburn Cathedral under the direction of Samuel Hudson.
The carnyx was played by John Kenny.[5]
Gallery of reconstructions and reenactors

American reenactor French The German French
museum Deskford reconstructi
display reconstructi ons
on at the
Museum of
Scotland
reconst
ruction
In film
The carnyx is featured in the opening battle scene of Gladiator (2000); and is used as both a musical
instrument and a fear-inducing weapon. It appears in several battle scenes of the French film, Druids
(2001). A carnyx appears near the beginning of the 2012 Pixar computer animated film Brave.
See also
Dord (musical instrument), another type of Celtic trumpet which has been revived
Lur
Notes
1. Delmarre, 1987, pp. 106–107
2. Press report (http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/local_news/france-trumpets-discovery-of-galli
c-war-trophies-14434.html)
3. UPI.com (http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/11/15/Ancient-Celtic-war-horn-found-in-It
aly/UPI-43251353006605/) Carnyx identified in Italy
4. Hunter
5. https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/news/details.aspx?Id=PR17/0137
References
Delmarre, Xavier (2003) Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (2nd ed.) Paris: Editions
Errance. ISBN 2-87772-237-6
Hunter, Fraser (of Museum of Scotland), The Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20050907185217/http://www.shamrockirishmusic.org/id15.html),
reprint of piece by Hunter on the carnyx
External links
Ancient Celtic music (http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ancient_Celtic_music) in the Citizendium
Carnyx and co. Carnyx music (http://www.carnyxscotland.co.uk/).
Tintignac discoveries (http://www.limousin.culture.gouv.fr/spip.php?article122&var_recherch
e=tintignac) (in French, with photos)
Carnyx on a gold stater (http://www.kernunnos.com/culture/warriors/trophiesAV.jpe) of
Caesar and on a silver denarius (http://www.kernunnos.com/culture/warriors/gallia.jpe), both
from 48 BC
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Carnyx

significant height allowed it to be heard over the heads of the

Objects from Tintignac

Carnyx of Tintignac, A Carnyx found at A Carnyx found at Casque in the shape

Gallery of reconstructions and reenactors

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carnyx&oldid=934614316"

This page was last edited on 7 January 2020, at 14:31 (UTC).

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