Collection trésor de Vix - Ecran 7

The silver phiale is a wide and shallow bowl, measuring 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) in width. At its center is the omphalos, a bulge made of gilded silver leaf, which makes the bowl easier to grip.

Archaeologists believe this phiale was likely never used for serving wine to the guests : instead, it served as a religious and ceremonial item. In the Greek world, the phiale is reserved for the Gods : during a banquet, the Celts would always serve the Gods first by filling the phiale with wine and placing it on an altar or the ground before serving their guests.

Other phiales have also been found in the Celtic world. However, the hammered silver work seen in this piece, known from Etruria, Greece, and the Iberian Peninsula, had not been previously observed in Celtic settlements. The phiale from the Vix Treasure is the oldest silver vase discovered north of the Alps and demonstrates the cultural exchange of materials and techniques.