Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

7 Solokha gorytos
gallery of objects
(State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg)
From the main chamber of the kurgan of Solokha close to the principal burial. Excavated
by N. J. Vesebusky in 1913. Early fourth century bc.
This silver plate, now much decayed, covered the original gorytos of leather. The
figures have been highlighted with gilding. The ornamentation is divided into three
scenes: a central panel depicting a battle scene, an upper band showing a griffin and
a lion attacking a stag, and a separate plate covering the rectangular projection from
the upper part of the gorytos, showing a volute pattern below a panel displaying two
monsters.
The battle scene shows the interaction of two riders and three warriors on foot,
but is divided into two separate engagements. On the left is a young (unbearded) warrior,
naked to the waist with gorytos strapped to his left side, attacking a bearded
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