Essay name: Scythian Elements in early Indian Art
Author:
Swati Ray
Affiliation: University of Calcutta / Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture
This essay studies Scythian Elements in early Indian Art鈥攁 topic that has not garnered extensive scholarly attention. Although much research has focused on various aspects of Saka/Scythian culture, such as politics and numismatics, their contribution to Indian art remains underexplored. This essay delves into archaeological evidence, historical texts, and art forms from Eurasian steppes to decipher the Scythian impact.
Chapter 3 - Advent of the Sakas and the Saka-Pahlavas
4 (of 18)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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31
As mentioned above鹿, the first major direction from which the
Saka/Scythians invaded India was from the north, from the former Sai
country.The Chien Han-shu (ch. 96B) states that the territiory of the Wu-sun
(in the lli basin and including the area on the lake Issyk-kul) was originally the
country of Sai (Sakas ). When the Great Y眉eh-chih went to the west and
defeated and drove away the Sai wang (Saka king), the latter went southwards
and crossed Hsuan-Tu and the great Y眉eh-chih occupied their country. This
happened during the reign of the Hsiung- nu ruler Mao-dun (171-158 B.C.).
This migration probably took place between 174 and 160 or 158 B.C.2 The
Ch'ien Han-Shu (ch. 96A) further records that the Sai king went southwards
and became ruler of Chipin鲁 and indicates that the 艢akas following their leader,
migrated through the area of Su-le (Kashgarh). It appears that a section of the
艢akas migrated southwards from the Lake Issyk-kul and through Kashgarh
and the Pamirs entered Chipin the name of which can be phonetically related
to that of K膩艣m沫ra, included a part of the north-western section of the Indian
subcontinent ( incorporating the Kashmir valley). Thus, the earliest Saka
(Saka) invasion of India, which came from the north, resulted in the
1 See p.29, above.
2B. Watson, Records of the Grand Historian of China, New York, 1961, Vol. II, pp. 173-
175.
3 C.H.S., ch. 96A, p.10; ch. 96B, p.76.
