Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art

25 (Color plate 4)
The subject matter on this mirror combines
purely Greek compositions-such as a
winged Artemis holding two wild beasts
by the forelegs (the potnia theron,
mistress of animals) and heraldic sphinxes
-with Near Eastern motifs such as the
lion and tree and with Scythian themes
like the two men fighting a griffin. The
Greek elements in this mirror are Ionian,
and it was perhaps in Asia Minor that
the artist became familiar with Greek and
Near Eastern compositions flourishing
side by side. The scheme of dividing a disk
into sectors and the lack of any thematic
organization in the decoration, coupled
with a certain crudity of style, speak
for native Scythian rather than Greek
workmanship. Payne has dated the
mirror in the middle of the 6th century
B.C. The mirror is a type common to
Siberia and China and introduced to the
west from that region; the distinctive
feature is that the loop handle (now
broken off) was placed in the center of
the disk.
Mirror. The handle on the back has been
broken off. Silver, back covered with gold
leaf, diameter 17.3 cm. (613/6 in.).
Ionic style (possibly of Scythian
workmanship following Ionic examples),
late 7th-early 6th century B. C. Krasnodar '
region, Kelermes, kurgan 4. Excavations
of D. G. Schulz, 1903. Hermitage, Ku 1904,
1/27.
M. N. Maksimova, "Serebryanoe zerkalo
iz Kelermesskogo kurgana," SA (1959),
no. 21, p. 281; Artamonov, Splendor, pls.
29-33.
21
'
f
26 (Color plate 4)
Stags and felines of symbolic significance
were considered to be appropriate
decorations for weapons. The positions
of both animals on this plaque, a covering
for a gorytus-the combination quiver
and bow-case typical of the Scythians-are
those endlessly repeated in Scythian
works of art.
Plaque, plating from a gorytus stamped with
stags and panthers. Gold, height 40.5 cm.
(1515A6 in.).
Scythian, late 7th-early 6th century B.C.
Krasnodar region, Kelermes, kurgan 4.
Excavations of D. G. Schulz, 1903.
Hemitage, Ku 1904, 1/28.
Artamonov, Splendor, pl. 21.
27
Recumbent stag, finial. Gold, length 8.3 cm.
(3Y4 in.).
Scythian, late 7th-early 6th century B.C.
Krasnodar region, Kelermes, kurgan 2.
Excavations of D. G. Schulz, 1903.
Hermitage, Ku 1904, 1/18.
Artamonov, Splendor, pl. 50.
23
28 (Color plate 5)
This large plaque-over 12 inches long-
was found resting on iron scales of armor,
and may once have decorated a breastplate
or shield made of some perishable
material. The animal's tail and paws are
made up of other small felines. The inlays
of glass paste and stone are a minor part
of the design, but the taste for such
colorful additions increases during the
following centuries until it becomes a
major element in the art of the Sarmatians
and the Huns.
Panther. On the feet and tail are small
figures of curled-up panthers. Gold, inlaid,
length 32.6 cm. (1213/16 in.).
Scythian, late 7th-early 6th century B.C.
Krasnodar region, Kelermes, kurgan 1.
Excavations of D. G. Schulz, 1903.
Hermitage, Ku 1904, 2/1.
Artamonov, Splendor, pls. 22-24.
101