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La Tène
La Tène [Fr., the shallows]. Archaeological site at the eastern end of Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, whose name now describes late Iron Age Celtic culture. Discovered by an amateur archaeologist in 1858, the La Tène site, one of the glories of the barbarian world, marks a holy settlement of Celtic craftspersons and artisans from after 500 BC until the Roman conquest. The huge trove at La Tène includes 400 brooches, 270 spears, 27 wooden shields, 170 swords, as well as votive offerings: dogs, pigs, cattle, chariots, and human beings. La Tène culture, now classed in three phases, I, II, and III, developed from the interaction of the earlier, geometric Hallstatt style and Etruscan and Greek influences from the Mediterranean. The typical La Tène style is characterized by S-shapes, spirals, and swirling round patterns symmetrically applied. While known in all parts of Celtic Europe, the La Tène style is especially evident in the art of the pre-Roman British Isles; atrophying under Roman domination, it persisted through Christianization in Ireland until the Norman conquest, 1169.
Bibliography See Paul Vouga , La Tène (Leipzig, 1923); |
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "La Tène." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "La Tène." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-LaTne.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "La Tène." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-LaTne.html |
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La Tène
La Tène , ancient Celtic site on Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, that gives its name to the second and final period of the European Iron Age . It is characterized by an art style that drew upon Greek, Etruscan, and Scythian motifs and translated them into highly abstract designs in metal, pottery, and wood. The earliest phase of Tenian culture, from the 6th to the late 5th cent. BC, spread from the middle Rhine region E into the Danube valley, S into Switzerland, and W and N into France, the Low Countries, Denmark, and the British Isles; this was the period of the first of the great Celtic (see Celt ) migrations. Tenian culture flourished until subjected to the advances of the Roman Empire. The Celtic peoples of the La Tène period borrowed much from older civilizations, including the Etruscan chariot, woodworking tools that enabled them to clear temperate forests for planting, and Greek agricultural implements such as the rotary millstone. Native coinage appeared in Gaul during the latter part of the period, along with the fortified townships eventually conquered by Julius Caesar. An exceptional example of late Tenian culture is found in the ancient lake dwellings of Glastonbury, S England. |
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"La Tène." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "La Tène." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LaTene.html "La Tène." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-LaTene.html |
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La Tène
La Tène Archaeological site in Switzerland, discovered in the 19th century. It gives its name to the second phase of Celtic culture (c.500–c.50 bc). The origin of the culture, which replaced the Hallstatt, was contact with Greek and Etruscan influences. It was a highly war-like culture, hierarchically organized with kings, a priestly class (the Druids), warriors, farmers and slaves. La Tène weaponry was Late Iron Age. The La Tène Celts conquered central Europe in the 4th and 3rd centuries. By 50 bc they had submitted to German invaders from the n and Romans from the s.
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"La Tène." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "La Tène." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-LaTne.html "La Tène." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-LaTne.html |
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Tène, La
Tène, La the second cultural phase of the European Iron Age, following the Halstatt period (c.480 bc) and lasting until the coming of the Romans. This culture represents the height of Celtic power, being characterized by hill forts, rich and elaborate burials, and distinctively crafted artefacts.
The name is recorded from the late 19th century, and comes from the name of a district in Switzerland, where remains of the culture were first identified. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tène, La." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tène, La." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-TneLa.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Tène, La." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-TneLa.html |
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La Tène
La Tène See IRON AGE.
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Cite this article
"La Tène." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "La Tène." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LaTne.html "La Tène." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-LaTne.html |
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