---
title: Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age
author: Nathalie Choubineh
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2024-12-11
---

# Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age

_Authored by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/)_

## Image File

[![Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19756.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/19756.jpg)

## Image Caption

Clay figurine found in Chorvátsky Grob, Late [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/).

Slovak National Museum, Bratislava.

Moon idols (Mondidole), also known as 'firedogs' (Feuerböcke), were clay figurines shaped like a dog or wolf, whose elongated, backward bending neck merged at the end with a wheel-like moon disc. These zoomorphic, surreal statues are among the most characteristic [grave](https://www.worldhistory.org/burial/) goods remaining from the Urnfield [Culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/), the Late [Bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) Age culture of Central [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/) between the 14th and the 8th centuries BCE that partially overlapped with the succeeding [Hallstatt Culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hallstatt_Culture/). Named after the practice of using urns to bury the cremated body of the dead, the Urnfield Culture is represented by burials containing decorated and plain pieces of [pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/pottery/), various [metal](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/metal/) articles often gender-specific (e.g. hairpins and jewelry for females, swords, pins, and iron 'wights' for men), and ritual artefacts such as vessels and idols.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## Bibliography

- [(PDF) Burial Mounds and Social Status in Sopron-Burgstall Cemetery](https://www.academia.edu/16607140/Social_Dimension_of_Burial_Mounds_of_Kalenderberg_Group_Hallstatt_Culture_Case_Study_of_Burial_Mounds_in_Sopron_Burgstall_Cemetery "(PDF) Burial Mounds and Social Status in Sopron-Burgstall Cemetery"), accessed 6 Dec 2024.
- Simon Matzerath. "Feuerböcke und Mondidole aus Gräbern-Ein Beitrag zum Symbolgut der späten Bronze- und frühen Eisenzeit Mitteleuropas." *Archaeologische Informationen*, vol. 32, 2013, pp. 165-172.

## About the Author

Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge.
- [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/nathalie.choubineh/)
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-choubineh-035a8451/)

## External Links

- [About the museum | Slovak National Museum](https://www.snm.sk/en/museums/museum-of-history/museum-of-history/about-the-museum)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Choubineh, N. (2024, December 11). Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/>
### Chicago
Choubineh, Nathalie. "Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 11, 2024. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/>.
### MLA
Choubineh, Nathalie. "Moon Idol from Central European Bronze Age." *World History Encyclopedia*, 11 Dec 2024, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19756/moon-idol-from-central-european-bronze-age/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Nathalie Choubineh](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/nathalie.choubineh/ "User Page: Nathalie Choubineh"), published on 11 December 2024. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.