Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

bending the bow
9.15 (Right) The silver bowl, with figures covered in gold sheet,
from Gaymanova mogila depicts two scenes each of pairs of
men in conversation (see Gallery, no. 3). The individual shown
here wears his gorytos on his left side, his left hand resting on
his arrows. In his right hand is a whip. Another gorytos containing
a strung bow is by his right knee.
9.16 (Below) The gold beaker from Kul’Oba (see Gallery, no.
1). In this scene both men hold short spears. One has his
shield, probably of leather, by his side. The other wears his
gorytos on his left side with the end of the bow just showing.
depicted on the felt wall hanging from kurgan 5
carries his gorytos with him as he approaches a
goddess.
Beside the bow Scythian warriors were usually
equipped with a variety of spears and lances,
and with swords and daggers. Among the former,
short spears less than 2 m long were common.
They could be thrown at the commencement
of an engagement or used for thrusting in close
fighting much as the mounted warrior depicted
on the Solokha comb is about to do (Gallery, no.
5). Short spears were also used for hunting. Some
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