Moesgaard opens the doors to the Celtic universe with a world of myths and magic

It's almost half past two on a Wednesday afternoon, and the Moesgaard foyer is buzzing with voices.

850 guests are invited to the opening of Moesgaard's new exhibition, The World of the Celts – Europe's Primordial Power. Bubbles clink against glass, small bags of chips are passed from hand to hand, and small talk is made in tense anticipation.

“It's almost time,” says a woman next to me as she straightens her jacket.

There is something special about the atmosphere. A feeling that we are about to witness something bigger than just a vernissage. This is Moesgaard when it vibrates, when history awakens and people gather to feel it.

A museum that is felt in the body

Concrete and the landscape merge in the building, which always makes me feel small in a good way. The light falls in from above, and you sense the silence, even though the room is buzzing.

The chairman of the board, Anne-Marie Dohm, steps up to the podium with a warm smile. She begins with a reminder of why Moesgaard exists and how the museum, in its current form, has developed into a voice in the world over the past ten years.

“Because it is the story of us. The story of humanity. And it is complex, but it is also fascinating, and it is adventurous, and it is full of mystery, imagination, artistic and spiritual expression,” she says, her gaze sweeping over the gathering.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many severed heads in an exhibition before,” she says with a wry laugh. The audience bursts into laughter, the kind of laughter that reveals both curiosity and a hint of horror. And that’s exactly where the story comes to life.

Anne-Marie Dohm, Chairman of the Board

When history unites Europe

Shortly after, Mads Kähler Holst takes the floor. He speaks not as a museum director, but as a storyteller who takes us on a journey into the past.

He takes us back to the time of the Celts. To a world of warriors, craftsmen and seers.

“Out of it grew a primal force in the heart of Europe,” he says. “A people who connected the continent with trade, alliances and myths. A culture that is both fascinating and disturbing.”

He explains how The World of the Celts – The Primal Power of Europe is the most comprehensive exhibition Moesgaard has ever created. The objects used in the exhibition have been sourced from 24 museums across Europe.

“We’ve never worked on this scale before,” he says. “So many countries, stories and cultures brought together in one story.”

Mads Kähler Holst, Director of Moesgaard

A voice that really resonates

Conversation comes to a standstill as the notes of soprano Brit-Tone fill the foyer. She sings Casta Diva, Bellini's famous prayer to the moon goddess, sung by Norma, a Celtic priestess caught between love and fidelity.

I must honestly admit that I have never been a big opera fan. But there, in the middle of Moesgaard's stairs, I am struck. The voice is so pure that it feels as if it is brushing against the skin. It is a moment that stands still.

The mayor and the pride of the city

As the last notes die away, Mayor Anders Winnerskjold steps forward. He stands still for a brief moment, letting the silence hang in the air, as if he too is feeling the moment.

“It is a privilege that we have cultural institutions like Moesgaard,” he says, looking out over the audience.

“The building practically grows out of the landscape,” he continues, “and it tells our shared story at a top international level.”

He mentions that Moesgaard has once again been voted Denmark's best attraction. And you can hear the pride in his voice.

“Moosgaard shows us that history is not a straight line, but branched, intertwined and connected beneath the surface.”

“Here we can immerse ourselves, be challenged and see ourselves in a new light,” he says.

As he smiles and declares the exhibition open, the door slides open behind him, almost as if on cue, while the audience applauds.

Christina in conversation with Aarhus Mayor Anders Winnerskjold

When Aarhus becomes the center of Europe

Before we go into the exhibition, I have a brief moment with Anders Winnerskjold.
I ask what it means for Aarhus that Moesgaard continues to win awards and create exhibitions of international caliber.

“When a museum like Moesgaard is named Denmark's best attraction, it rubs off,” he answers.
“More people are opening their eyes to our museums and city, both Aarhusians and tourists. The big ones attract people, but they also give life to the smaller ones. This creates a strong environment around art and communication.”

And then I ask whether there is still room for the smaller and urban cultural environment in all of this.
He nods and smiles, “Yes, I think so. A city like ours should be able to do both. With such a mixed population across ages and interests and the many tourists who visit the city, there should be room for it all.”

From the darkness of the forest to the world of the gods

The entrance is darkened. The light falls dimly through the rooms, and a sacred oak tree rises before us in one of the first rooms. All around, figures, symbols and weapons glow in the dim light.

It feels like stepping into another time. Like the world outside disappears.

The exhibition opens like a film. Glass cases glow dimly in the darkness. Skulls, swords and jewelry lie there, all lit from within, as if the objects still carry their own pulse.

A married couple stands close to a display case. They have been among the first to enter almost the entire exhibition.
“We can’t possibly fit it all in,” the woman says, smiling. “We’ll have to come back. This requires several visits, and it’s lucky we have annual passes.”
Her husband nods. “It’s like leafing through a book that gets thicker the longer you read.”

They compare the exhibition to Mother Earth, Moesgaard's previous success.
“This one can do something completely different,” she says. “It has a depth I haven’t experienced before.”
Her husband nods approvingly, “Yes, it feels like you are part of the story yourself.”

Warriors, goddesses and tales in glass

In one room stands the Gundestrup Cauldron. In Celtic mythology, cauldrons are associated with rebirth and strength, and it is believed that whoever drinks from the sacred vessels can achieve immortality or be reborn on the battlefield.

I can't help but smile a little and think of Asterix and Obelix. The cartoons I've seen so often, where the Celts fight the Romans with strength potions and unwavering faith in their gods. Here, in front of the cauldron in the display case, it suddenly doesn't feel like a cartoon. It's reality and with a story that comes very close.

It feels as if history is getting under your skin. The texts in the exhibition tell of sacrifices, worship of gods and rituals where people are beheaded and their heads are hidden as symbols of strength. A brutal, but also poetic world where life and death exist side by side.

In another room lie golden necklaces and glass bracelets. The signs tell how the women moved through the streets, their jewelry jingling like music. The sound of beauty and strength, it says.

“That's what I love about Moesgaard, it's not just about the finds, but also about the people behind them.

An exhibition that pulls threads

After the exhibition, I stand for a while, taking it all in, as I have just experienced it. Right behind me is the couple I met inside the exhibition. I turn around and ask if they have gained more insight into the life of the Celts after the exhibition.

“I didn’t think the Celts were so widespread,” the man says. “From Greece to Jutland, it’s all connected.”
She nods. “It gives such a sense of cohesion. As if Denmark suddenly becomes part of something bigger.”

And that is exactly what the exhibition does. It draws threads from Himmerland to the Alps. From past to present.
Moesgaard calls it Europe's primordial power, and it feels exactly that way. Like a pulse that you can still feel.

Moesgaard has once again created something that not only tells the story, but also lets us feel it.

In addition to the academic content, the museum is a visual feat of genius, which you can read much more about in our portrait of it. award-winning museum in Aarhus, where we also guide you through the many articles.

FACTS: Who were the Celts?

Kelterne were not one people, but a multitude of tribes that spread across much of Europe during the Iron Age, from the British Isles to Turkey. They were bound together by trade, religion and a common language, and they were among the first to exploit iron on a large scale.

They built fortified cities, created unique crafts in bronze and silver, and performed ritual ceremonies with gods and natural forces.
They sacrificed both humans and animals, and human heads were preserved as symbols of power and protection.

In the Nordic countries, they left clear traces. Celtic-inspired finds such as silver cauldrons, jewelry and magnificent chariots have been found in Danish bogs, and the Gundestrup cauldron from Himmerland in particular is considered one of Europe's most enigmatic and beautiful finds.

As the Roman Empire expanded, the Celtic world was swallowed up, but the myths lived on.
From druid legends to modern traditions like Halloween.

Fun fact:
Asterix & Obelix is ​​inspired by the life of the Celts and their belief that whoever drank from the sacred vessels could achieve immortality on the battlefield.

Discover more from the exhibition The World of the Celts – Europe's Primordial Power here