Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

bodies clothed in skins
8.1 The gold beaker from Kul’-Oba was decorated with a zone showing seven Scythian males engaged in
a range of activities. The depiction of the figures provides much detail of hairstyle, clothing, and weaponry
(see Gallery, no. 1).
also enlivened by bands of embroidered decoration. It was clothing well designed
for a rider, comfortable on a horse, warm and windproof. The style conforms well to
Ovid’s description of Scythians he encountered at Tomis near the mouth of the Danube:
‘they wear skins and stitched trousers as protection from the cold and the only
part of the body one sees is the face’.
The figures on the Gaymanova mogila bowl are similarly dressed but since they
are inside they are without hats. The only significant difference is that their tunics are
longer and fringed, with the long pointed flaps extending to mid-calf length. Such
elaboration might be indicative of higher status. Riders shown on the gold neck ring
from Kul’-Oba are dressed like the warriors on the Kul’-Oba beaker, as are the horse
trainers depicted around the top of the Chertomlÿk amphora, but in both of these
cases the trousers were baggy.
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