Dôme aux dragons

Circular trim, 20 cm in diameter, whose function is not known: lid of a wooden vessel? Trim of a chariot? Indeed, next to the chariot, a lid-like element with animal monster head motifs was collected. The piece, cast with lost wax, is organized in three superimposed registers, the last one in the form of a central button.

On the lower register, a circular band is composed of an alternating series of 10 monsters chained together: five monsters with wide-open gules alternate with five smaller monsters with globular-ended snouts.

The middle register consists of a round of three dragons, connected by the snout and tail, with half-open mouths showing teeth.

In the upper register, three large globules appear to be composed of isolated anatomical elements belonging to the monsters in the underlying registers: on a mane element, we recognize a globule, then an eye, then an ear.

With its highly elaborate geometric construction, the Roissy dome bears witness to the implementation of mathematical knowledge based on the division of the circle. The realization of the patterns of monsters, which are physically incomplete, also shows that Gallic creators represent these fabulous beings by suggesting their presence through anatomical details undoubtedly characteristic.

A work of art and science, the Dome aux Dragons de Roissy testifies to the existence of a Celtic symbolic universe whose content escapes us. It was obviously produced in a very specialized bronze workshop. Presumably located in the Paris basin, where a particular Celtic style has been identified, known as the School of Paris.
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