The Golden Horns

The Golden Horns were crafted during the Iron Age – despite being made of gold. Their exact purpose remains a mystery, but archaeologists believe they played a significant role in Iron Age religious rituals.

The horns are adorned with strange figures, some of which are half-animal and half-human.

At some point during the Iron Age, the horns were buried in the earth. Some believe they were intended as an offering to the gods.

The first horn was discovered in 1639 by a young girl named Kirsten. As a reward for her historic find, the King gifted her a skirt, as all gold found in the ground at that time legally belonged to the monarch.

The King later used the horn as a drinking vessel during grand banquets at the castle, serving as a powerful symbol of his status and authority.

In 1734, a poor farmer named Erik found the second golden horn. Both horns were placed in the King’s private museum, only to be stolen by a goldsmith in 1802. He tragically melted down the priceless treasures to make jewelry. Consequently, only replicas of the golden horns exist today.

A set of these replicas is on display at Tønder Museum.