Carnyx versus Cornu and Tubilustrium

Hello and welcome to Day 14 of my April 2022 posts to do with the writing of Before Beltane, a Prequel to the Celtic Fervour series. 

Warfare some 2000 years ago, between Iron Age Celts and the Ancient Roman Armies, had less sophisticated methods of communication than those of today, but soldiers going into pitched battle were not without their own form of rallying and command calls. 

Archaeology has provided some interesting evidence of the instruments used for a 'commander' to rally his troops, or to give orders to them. Shouting works with a small number of people close by, but for more soldiers to obey a command something more powerful is need.

The carnyx was a wind instrument of the Iron Age Celts, a form of trumpet (probably bronze) with an unusual shape. The long central tube was held in a vertical position with a mouthpiece at the top, in the form of a boar’s head (possibly other animals). The tongue inside the head vibrated to give a variety of sounds and was probably used to rally the Iron Age troops in battle.

The height would have meant it was heard over the heads of the warriors. If used for ceremonial purposes the effect would have been similar.  I think a religious ceremony punctuated by the sounds of a carnyx might have been quite terrifying to the average tribesperson. 

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gundestrup_E.jpg

On the right hand side of this image from the Gundestrup Cauldron there are three Carnyx players, which give a good indication of how high the carnyx was held above the players, and above the warriors around them.  If this was the only evidence of a carnyx, then it might be a disputed image, some perhaps saying it was a fanciful drawing of what was used in battle by Celtic/Iron Age warriors.

Fortunately, other evidence has been uncovered to show just what a carnyx could look like. 

The Deskford Carnyx was found carefully dismantled and buried in a peat bog not far from the Moray Coast, Scotland. Based on the findings, a replica carnyx was created and the video below demonstrates the amazing sounds it could have created. The Deskford Carnyx is in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. My photography isn't great, but it was fantastic to see it close up (even in a glass case). 

Nancy Jardine
National Museum of Scotland 

The sounds of the carnyx are demonstrated in this video so very well!

 

Cornu and Tubilustrium Festival

The Ancient Roman Armies had a horn/s of their own and it no doubt did a great job to rally a century of men. The cornu was played by the cornicen (the trained soldier musician) when orders were required to be obeyed. The circular shape of the cornu meant it would have been easier to carry over a shoulder, but the sounds would maybe not have carried as far as those of a carnyx. Roman armies also had a smaller trumpet, but it was a simple horn without the sophistication and finger play of a modern horn.

I'd love to be there sometime and hear this Roman Army re-enactor play the cornu! 

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornicen_1-cropped.jpg

 In Before Beltane both carnyx and Tubilustrium Festival are discussed by Lorcan and others at Cynrig of the Carvetii’s fireside. 

I also wrote about the Tubilustrium Festival in a blog post last year, around the time that I was writing Lorcan’s half of the Prequel. You can read about the festival HERE .

You can Pre-order the eBook HERE or buy the paperback HERE 

Happy Reading.

Slàinte!