Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

gallery of objects
The body is divided into two registers by a narrow ovolo
band set just below the widest part of its girth; the lower
part is decorated with narrow, closely spaced petals arising
from a rosette centred on the base. The upper register
depicts six male Scythians arranged in pairs, all deep
in conversation.
1. A seated longhaired and bearded Scythian, resting
his right arm on his battleaxe, talks to another
bearded individual, who also sits, holding a whip.
2. A clean-shaven young man sits with one leg crossed
over the other leaning on his battleaxe whilst listening
to an older bearded man, who offers him a bow.
3. A bearded man holding a rod in his right hand
stretches out his left hand to his partner. This second
man, who is also bearded, is kneeling holding two
spears in one hand and a shield in the other.
Interpretation is difficult. Whilst the scenes could simply
represent male comradeship, it is more likely that
they were intended to represent events from Scythian
history or mythology familiar to contemporary
Âviewers.
The individual depictions provide detailed evidence
of the physical appearance of Scythian males and their
clothing. A full range of weaponry is shown: spears,
shields, battleaxes, and whips, while each man wears his
gorytos.
The beaker is similar in form and decoration to the
Kul’-Oba beaker. Vessels of this kind are depicted in
scenes of Scythians rituals involving female deities,
suggestÂing that they may have been cult objects.
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