Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art

172 (Color plate 29)
Scythians are shown here in their full
panoply, with the characteristic gorytus
(a quiver holding the bow as well as
arrows), shield, and bow. The pattern on
the rim and the careful rendering of
features betray Greek workmanship. The
three-quarter view is typical of classic
Greek art of the 4th century B.C.
Drinking cup (skyphos) showing Scythian
warriors resting. Silver gilt, height 9.2 cm.
(35/s in.), diameter 10.3 cm. (416 in.),
weight 24.29 gr.
Greek workmanship, executed for the
Scythians, 4th century B.C. Zaporozhe
district, Balki village. Gaimanova Mogila
kurgan. Kiev Historical Museum, AZS 2358.
173
Plaque decorated with a recumbent griffin.
Gold, 2.95 x 2.4 cm. (13/16 X 15/16 in.).
Kherson district, near the Sovkhoz, Blyukher
kurgan. Kiev Historical Museum, AZ 2404.
174
Wild boar, plaque. Gold, 9 x 4.6 cm.
(312 x 1 13/ in. ).
4th century B.C. Kherson district, kurgan
near Arkhangelskaya village. Kiev Historical
Museum, AZ 2325.
175
Recumbent panther, plaque. Gold, length
8cm. (31/ in.).
4th century B.C. Kherson district, kurgan
near Arkhangelskaya village. Kiev Historical
Museum, AZ 2326.
180
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176 180
Dog, plaque. Gold, length 9.45 cm. (33/ in.).
4th century B.C. Kherson district, kurgan
near Arkhangelskaya village. Kiev Historical
Museum, AZ 2327.
177
Woman with raised arms sitting on a ram,
pendant. Gold, height 8.3 cm. (3% in.).
4th century B.C. Kherson district, kurgan
near Lyubimovka village. Kiev Historical
Museum, AZ 2312.
178 (Color plate 30)
This unusual ornament shows a spider
in combat with an insect, conforming to
the Scythian notion of constant battle
pervading even the insect kingdom.
Insect and spider, openwork plaque. Gold,
length 4.2 cm. (15/s in.).
4th century B.C. Zaporozhe district, kurgan
near the town of Melitopol. Kiev Historical
Museum, AZS 1329.
179
The situla is a wine bucket with two
swinging handles that lie flat on the rim
when not carried. On one side this
example has a pouring spout in the shape
of a lion's head, cast in one piece with
the rings that hold the handles. Opposite
the lion's head is a frontal bust of Athena.
Situla. Bronze, height 23 cm. (91/16 in.),
capacity 5.5 liters.
Greek, 4th century B.C. Kiev Historical
Museum, BB 41-431.
Ganina, Antichni bronzi z Pishanogo, cover,
figs. 2, 19-22,30, p. 90.
Plaque with the representation of a bearded
Scythian.
Kurgan near Krasno Perekopsk.
Kiev Historical Museum.
181
Bronze brazier.
Gaimanova Mogila kurgan. Kiev Historical
Museum.
182
Oinochoe.
Gaimanova Mogila kurgan. Kiev Historical
Museum.
183 (Color plate 27)
The combination of two different heads
joined back to back occurs in Scythian art
for the first time in the second kurgan of
the Seven Brothers, where the two are the
head of Athena and of a lion; a comparison
with Athenian coins allows a date of
about 440 B.C. Here the head of a lion is
joined to that of a youth, almost as if the
artist remembered the common Greek
motif of Heracles wearing the lion skin.
The type persists until about 370 B.C.
Heads of a youth and a lion. Gold, diameter
2.4 cm. (15/l in.).
Kherson region, near Nizhniye Sirogozy
village, Oguz kurgan. Kiev Historical
Museum, DM 6264.
184 (Color plate 28)
Lion. Silver gilt, length 9.5 cm. (33/ in.),
height 6.3 cm. (21/2 in.), weight 36.38 gr.
6th-7th century A.D. Cherkassy district,
treasure trove near Martynovka village.
Kiev Historical Museum, AZS 81.
185 (Color plate 28)
Human figures are quite rare in the art
of the steppes, in contrast to the
overwhelming number of animals. Though
severely simplified, this man's dress can
be recognized as that of a horse nomad,
and his posture-arms akimbo and knees
bent-suggests a dance step still surviving
in Russian folk dance.
Dancing man. Silver gilt, height 8.6 cm.
(33% in.), width 5.2 cm. (21/lG in.), weight
24.4 gr.
6th-7th century A.D. Cherkassy district,
treasure trove near Martynovka village.
Kiev Historical Museum, AZS 84.
127