Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art

79 (Color plate 16)
This drinking vessel, made to resemble a
long, tapering animal horn, is a type
frequently found in Scythian tombs. Those
of gold and silver are usually made of
many pieces, ending in a small animal's
head. Scythians are often represented
drinking from such horns on Greek works
depicting scenes from nomad life (see
nos. 72,76).
Drinking horn (rhyton) with a lion's-head
finial. Silver with gold finial, height 29 cm.
(11% in.).
4th century B.C. Crimea, near Kerch, Kul
Oba kurgan. Excavations, 1830. Hermitage,
KO 105.
Artamonov, Splendor, pl. 251.
80 (Color plate 16)
The two archers differ from other
representations of Scythians in that,
although they are fighting, they do not
wear the typical Scythian cap or
helmet, and their hair is tied in a topknot,
a coiffure described by Herodotus as
typical of Thracians.
Two archers drawing their bows, clothing
ornament plaque. Gold, height 2.8 cm.
(18 in.).
4th century B.C. Crimea, near Kerch, Kul
Oba kurgan. Excavations, 1830. Hermitage,
KO 65.
Artamonov, Splendor, pl. 224.
81 (Color plates 17, 18)
The shape and ornaments of this vessel are
Greek, as is the workmanship, but the
subject matter is taken from the daily life
or mythology of the Scythians. Although
many interpretations of the scenes on this
bottle have been proposed, none is certain.
Bottle with ring base depicting Scythians
engaged in various activities: conversing, bow
stringing, treating a mouth ailment, and
bandaging a wounded leg. Raevsky interprets
the decoration on this vessel as scenes from
the myth about the origin of the Scythians
recorded by Herodotus: represented are the
three sons of the snake-legged goddess and
Heracles (the Scythian Targitaus), who,
before mounting the throne, had to string
Heracles's bow. Only the youngest, Scythes,
succeeded; the others, Agathyrsus and
Gelonus, suffered wounds usual during an
unsuccessful stringing: on the left side of
the jaw and the calf of the left leg. Gold,
height 13 cm. (5Y8 in.).
Greek workmanship, executed for the
Scythians, 4th century B.C. Crimea, near
Kerch, Kul Oba kurgan. Excavations, 1830.
Hermitage, KO 11.
Artamonov, Splendor, pls. 226-229, 232, 233;
Raevsky, SA (1970), no. 3, p. 90.
82 (Color plate 19)
This piece is purely Greek, from the
ornaments to the finials, which are in the
classical Greek style and depict
standardized Scythians on horses, as if on
parade.
Torque made of twisted gold wire with
sculptured Scythian horsemen at the ends.
Gold and enamel, diameter 25.8 cm. (10%
in.).
Greek workmanship, executed for the
Scythians, 4th century B.C. Crimea, near
Kerch, Kul Oba kurgan. Excavations, 1830.
Hermitage, KO 17.
Artamonov, Splendor, pls. 201,202.
86