Theodulpass
Origin of the name Theodulpass
On Sebastian Münster's map of 1545 the crossing is still called «Mons silvius» and «augstal berg». The present name comes from the legend of Saint Theodul and was already in common use in the 17th century. The pass is also called «Col de Saint Théodule».[1][4]
Founding of Theodulpass
At 3'317 m, in the municipality of Zermatt, the Theodulpass links the Mattertal with the Valtournanche on the Italian side. Roman coins found on the crossing show that it was already used in Antiquity. In the late Middle Ages mule tracks and footpaths led from Zermatt over the pass to Breuil. With the Little Ice Age, crossing the passes became harder.[1][2][3][4]
History of Theodulpass
Neolithic. An axe blade of this period, found in 1959 in the area called «Garten» below the glacier tongue, shows a very early human presence.[1]
15th century. Marriages already link families of Zermatt and the Aosta valley.[1]
16th century. Wine from Aosta and cattle from Zermatt are traded over the pass.[1]
1584. First death recorded in writing on the upper Theodul glacier.[1]
around 1600. A man dies on the glacier, about 2.5 km from the pass, with his weapons and his purse. The latest of his coins dates from 1591.[1]
1855. Human and mule bones and remains of clothing are found on the glacier.[1]
1891. About twenty silver and bronze coins of the Roman imperial period appear on the upper glacier.[1]
1895. New finds: Roman copper coins north of the pass, 54 coins south of the Theodul hut, an early medieval spearhead on the pass, remains of mules and people on the Italian side.[1]
1984. In summer the ski instructor Annemarie Julen notices, at the edge of the glacier, the first objects of the Theodul man. The finds continue until 1989.[1]
2006. After restoration at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich and the Abegg Foundation in Riggisberg, the objects go to the Museum of History of Valais in Sion.[1]
Historic sites in Theodulpass
Upper Theodul glacier. The find site lies between the Gandegg hut to the east and the Trockener Steg cable car station to the north.[1]
Remains in Theodulpass
Finds of the Theodul man. Bones and a skullcap, a wheellock pistol, a sword with a 120 cm blade, a parrying dagger, four knives, more than 120 fragments of woollen cloth, shoe leather, felt from a hat and 181 coins struck between 1558 and 1591. The style of the weapons points to the late 16th century.[1]
Legends of Theodulpass
Saint Theodul and his brother. According to legend, Bishop Theodul crossed the pass to visit his sick brother in Aosta. The pass takes its name from this story.[1]
Sources
- Annemarie Julen-Lehner et Peter Lehner, « Der Mann vom Theodulpass. Ein frühneuzeitlicher Gletscherfund am oberen Theodulgletscher bei Zermatt aus den Jahren 1984-1989 », Blätter aus der Walliser Geschichte, 2012, p. 181-216
- Office fédéral des routes (OFROU), Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), « VS 25 (Visp -) Stalden - Törbel - Zermatt (- Theodulpass) » (état novembre 2001)
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz (version allemande du Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse), « Zermatt » (Bernard Truffer, version du 13.02.2014)
- geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de swisstopo (Theodulpass)
Other villages near Theodulpass
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