Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art

102
29 (Color plate 4)
In the eastern region from which these
pieces come, the reindeer is more
naturalistically portrayed than in the art
of the Pontic steppes; compare the form
of the antlers and hooves to those of
the Kostromskaya stag (no. 18). The
turquoise for the inlay of the ears was
available in Siberia and eastern Iran.
Reindeer, four plaques from a wooden
quiver. Gold, ears inlaid with turquoise,
lengths 7.1 cm. (23 in.).
Scythian, 7th-6th century B.C. Kazakhstan,
Chiliktin valley, near Ust-Kamenogorsk,
kurgan 5 (The Golden One). Excavations of
S. S. Chernikov, 1960. Hermitage, 2326/1.
S. S. Chernikov, Zagadka zolotogo kurgana
(Moscow, 1965), p. 29, pl. XI.
30
Five arrowheads. Bronze, lengths 4-5 cm.
(1/%6-2 in.).
Scythian culture, 7th-6th century B.C.
Kazakhstan, Chiliktin valley, near
Ust-Kamenogorsk, kurgan 5 (The Golden
One). Excavations of S. S. Chernikov, 1960.
Hermitage, 2326/20,21.
Chernikov, Zagadka zolotogo kurgana,
p. 27, pl. X.
30
31 (Color plate 6)
A griffin's head tops this standard, which
enclosed a bell. These objects, frequently
found in Scythian tombs, may have been
attached to chariots or carts but they
are not actually found with either vehicles
or horses when discovered in place in
Scythian burials. It is therefore possible
that they were ceremonial objects
originally mounted on wooden shafts
and carried by hand.
Finial, openwork cone decorated with a
griffin's head with ram's horns. Bronze,
height 22 cm. (8% in.).
Scythian, late 7th-early 6th century B.C.
Kuban region, Ulski Aul, kurgan 1.
Excavations of N. I. Veselovsky, 1908.
Hermitage, Ku 1908, 3/10.
Artamonov, Splendor, pl. 59.
32 (Color plate 6)
The contracted pose, unnatural for a live
animal, is often repeated in Scythian art.
Holes for the attachment of these gold
plaques onto another material are placed
in areas where inlays often occur on
larger works.
Four panthers, plaques. Gold, lengths 2.7
cm. (1'/l6 in.).
Scythian, beginning of the 6th century B.C.
Kuban region, Ulski Aul, kurgan 1.
Excavations of N. I. Veselovsky, 1908.
Hermitage, Ku 1908, 3/3.
OAK 1908, p. 118, fig. 168.
36
33 (Color plate 8)
The silhouette of a bird of prey's head
decorating this standard encloses many
other animals: inside the curve of its
beak and head appears a fantastic creature
hovering above its prey, the goat; on the
goat's shoulder is a spiral form, doubtless a
stylization of another bird's head. Three
additional birds' heads occur above the
large eye at the lower right. The
incorporation of smaller creatures within
the form of a large animal or bird is
characteristic of Scythian art: the object
was then believed to contain all the
powers of the subjects represented.
Finial, fantastic bird's head decorated with
animals, a human eye, and bells (one of
the bells has been lost). Bronze, height
26 cm. (1014 in.), width 18.9 cm. (77/8 in.)
Scythian, 6th-5th century B.C. Kuban
region, Ulski Aul, kurgan 2. Excavations of
N. I. Veselovsky, 1909. Hermitage, Ku
1909, 1/111.
Artambnov, Splendor, pl. 58.