The largest bronze-age antiquity in the world
Published/Last edited on 17th February, 2017.
The Moon of Pejeng is a colossal bronze kettledrum believed to be the largest bronze-age antiquity in the world, housed high in a pavilion at the rear of Pura Penataran Sasih about six kilometres west of Ubud.
Similar (though not as large) metal drums have been found from China through Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and as far as west as Papua New Guinea possibly originating with the ?ông S?n culture (700-500BC—300AD) in northern Vietnam. The drums were both musical instruments and cult objects as well as articles of trade.
The origins of this particular drum are unclear, evidence of bronze casting in Bali around the same time has been found, however neither copper nor tin to make bronze is found on the island. The local legend for its origin affords it the epithet “The Moon of Pejeng”.
The fable was first recorded by a German botanist working for the Dutch East India Company in Ambon, Georgius Everhardus Rumphius (1628-1702) in his posthumous work The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet and the story goes, that the drum was once a wheel of the chariot that carried the moon across the night sky, as bright as the moon itself. One day it fell from the heavens into a tree at Pejeng, glowing so luminously it hampered a gang of thieves going about their thievery. One hapless chap decided to urinate on the shining object, dulling it to the bronze colour we see today. Apparently pissing on the moon’s shinny wheel is not advisable (if you ever happen to be in that situation), as it resulted in ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 600 words.)
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Address: Around 6 km west of Ubud
Coordinates (for GPS): 115º17'35.16" E, 8º30'50.01" S
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Admission: By donation
Reviewed by
Sally Arnold
Sally spent twelve years leading tourists around Indonesia and Malaysia where she collected a lot of stuff. She once carried a 40kg rug overland across Java. Her house has been described as a cross between a museum and a library. Fuelled by coffee, she can often be found riding her bike or petting stray cats. Sally believes travel is the key to world peace.