Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Catalogue - Metropolitan Museum of Art 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.
34 (Color plate 6) The coiling of the animal's body is a convention that occurs earlier in China than in Siberia or the Black Sea region, although it becomes a characteristic Scythian design. The animal in this instance may be a snow leopard, native to Siberia. The circle of the body is repeated in the smaller ones that originally held colored inlays. Curled-up panther, shield plaque. Gold, diameter 11 cm. (45/6 in.). Scytho-Sarmatian style, late 7th-early 6th century B.C. Siberian collection of Peter I. Location of find unknown. Hermitage, Si 1727, 1/88. S. I. Rudenko, Sibirskaya kollektsiya Petra I (Moscow-Leningrad, 1966), pl. VI, I. 35 Cheekpiece decorated with panther heads. Bone, length 12.7 cm. (5 in.). Scythian, 7th-6th century B.C. Dnieper river region. Chance find, 1888. Hermitage, Dn 1888, 1/1. Unpublished. 36 38 Pottery with white-filled incised decoration is associated with the forest cultures of the mid-Dnieper region. This type of decoration, however, was used by other nomads in Siberia as well as by many of the settled peoples in the Near East. Drinking bowl. Burnished earthenware, incised design filled with white paste, height 9.4 cm. (31166 in.). Scythian, culture of the agricultural population of the forest-steppe region, end of the 7th-beginning of the 6th century B.C. Dnieper river region, Cherkassy district, Makeyevka village, kurgan 455. Excavations of N. E. Brandenburg, 1900. Hermitage, Dn 1932, 55/3. V. A. Ilyinskaya, "Otnositelnaya khronologiya ranneskifskikh kurganov basseyna reki Tyasmin," SA (1973), no. 3, p. 11, figs. 5,37. 37 Ladle. Burnished earthenware, incised design filled with white paste, height 6.3 cm. (2% in.). Scythian, culture of the agricultural population of the forest-steppe region, end of the 7th-beginning of the 6th century B.C. Dnieper river region, Cherkassy district, Makeyevka village, kurgan 455. Excavations of N. E. Brandenburg, 1900. Hermitage, Dn 1932, 55/4. Smirnova, Domansky, Drevnee iskusstvo, pls. 33,34. Jar. A scratched inscription in Greek lias been translated "Obtain me." Burnished earthenware, height 37 cm. (1412 in.). Scythian, culture of the agricultural population of the forest-steppe region, end of the 7th-beginning of the 6th century B.C. Bug river basin, Vinnitsa district, Nemirovskoe settlement. Excavations of A. A. Spitzyn, 1910-1911. Hermitage, Dn 1933, 1/2591, 94,97,98. B. N. Grakov, "Grecheskoe graffito iz Nemirovskogo gorodishcha," SA (1959), no. 1, p. 259, fig. 1. 39 Two felines in a heraldic pose, bridle ornament. Bronze, height 4.3 cm. (111/16 in.). Scythian, showing influence of western Asiatic art, beginning of the 6th century B.C. Taman, shore of Tsukur estuary (on the Black Sea). Chance find, 1913. Hermitage, T 1913, 55. Artamonov, Splendor, p. 15, fig. 14. 38 103
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34 (Color plate 6)<br />
The coiling <strong>of</strong> the animal's body is a<br />
convention that occurs earlier in China than<br />
in Siberia or the Black Sea region,<br />
although it becomes a characteristic<br />
Scythian design. The animal in this<br />
instance may be a snow leopard, native<br />
to Siberia. The circle <strong>of</strong> the body is<br />
repeated in the smaller ones that originally<br />
held colored inlays.<br />
Curled-up panther, shield plaque. Gold,<br />
diameter 11 cm. (45/6 in.).<br />
Scytho-Sarmatian style, late 7th-early 6th<br />
century B.C. Siberian collection <strong>of</strong> Peter I.<br />
Location <strong>of</strong> find unknown. Hermitage,<br />
Si 1727, 1/88.<br />
S. I. Rudenko, Sibirskaya kollektsiya Petra I<br />
(Moscow-Leningrad, 1966), pl. VI, I.<br />
35<br />
Cheekpiece decorated with panther heads.<br />
Bone, length 12.7 cm. (5 in.).<br />
Scythian, 7th-6th century B.C. Dnieper river<br />
region. Chance find, 1888. Hermitage,<br />
Dn 1888, 1/1.<br />
Unpublished.<br />
36 38<br />
Pottery with white-filled incised<br />
decoration is associated with the forest<br />
cultures <strong>of</strong> the mid-Dnieper region. This<br />
type <strong>of</strong> decoration, however, was used<br />
by other nomads in Siberia as well as by<br />
many <strong>of</strong> the settled peoples in the<br />
Near East.<br />
Drinking bowl. Burnished earthenware,<br />
incised design filled with white paste, height<br />
9.4 cm. (31166 in.).<br />
Scythian, culture <strong>of</strong> the agricultural<br />
population <strong>of</strong> the forest-steppe region, end<br />
<strong>of</strong> the 7th-beginning <strong>of</strong> the 6th century B.C.<br />
Dnieper river region, Cherkassy district,<br />
Makeyevka village, kurgan 455. Excavations<br />
<strong>of</strong> N. E. Brandenburg, 1900. Hermitage,<br />
Dn 1932, 55/3.<br />
V. A. Ilyinskaya, "Otnositelnaya<br />
khronologiya ranneskifskikh kurganov<br />
basseyna reki Tyasmin," SA (1973), no. 3,<br />
p. 11, figs. 5,37.<br />
37<br />
Ladle. Burnished earthenware, incised design<br />
filled with white paste, height 6.3 cm.<br />
(2% in.).<br />
Scythian, culture <strong>of</strong> the agricultural<br />
population <strong>of</strong> the forest-steppe region, end<br />
<strong>of</strong> the 7th-beginning <strong>of</strong> the 6th century B.C.<br />
Dnieper river region, Cherkassy district,<br />
Makeyevka village, kurgan 455. Excavations<br />
<strong>of</strong> N. E. Brandenburg, 1900. Hermitage,<br />
Dn 1932, 55/4.<br />
Smirnova, Domansky, Drevnee iskusstvo,<br />
pls. 33,34.<br />
Jar. A scratched inscription in Greek lias<br />
been translated "Obtain me." Burnished<br />
earthenware, height 37 cm. (1412 in.).<br />
Scythian, culture <strong>of</strong> the agricultural<br />
population <strong>of</strong> the forest-steppe region, end<br />
<strong>of</strong> the 7th-beginning <strong>of</strong> the 6th century<br />
B.C. Bug river basin, Vinnitsa district,<br />
Nemirovskoe settlement. Excavations <strong>of</strong><br />
A. A. Spitzyn, 1910-1911. Hermitage, Dn<br />
1933, 1/2591, 94,97,98.<br />
B. N. Grakov, "Grecheskoe graffito iz<br />
Nemirovskogo gorodishcha," SA (1959),<br />
no. 1, p. 259, fig. 1.<br />
39<br />
Two felines in a heraldic pose, bridle<br />
ornament. Bronze, height 4.3 cm. (111/16 in.).<br />
Scythian, showing influence <strong>of</strong> western<br />
Asiatic art, beginning <strong>of</strong> the 6th century B.C.<br />
Taman, shore <strong>of</strong> Tsukur estuary (on the<br />
Black Sea). Chance find, 1913. Hermitage,<br />
T 1913, 55.<br />
<strong>Art</strong>amonov, Splendor, p. 15, fig. 14.<br />
38<br />
103
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