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 4 - Scythian / Saka Art
34 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Scythian burials. Earliest earring types appearing in Scythian burials were
boat-shaped or circular in form. This form elaborated and combined with
the disc-pendant, resulting in elaborate earrings and temple pendants
(worn hanging from a diadem or crown, over the wearer's temples). From
fifth to third centuries B.C., there are a number of usual Greek earring
forms, such as the splayed spiral with granulated terminals and earrings
with posts ornamented with disks or rosettes from which dangle miniature
figures such as Erotes, Nikai, or dancing figures, as at Juz Oba, Bolshaya
Bliznitsa and Artjukov's barrow.鹿 One kind of earring well-known from the
Hellenistic sites, seems virtually absent from Scythian burials except the
following.This is the earring type formed by a tapered hoop and terminating
in the head of an animal or person. Most of the earrings involve an
elaborate use of filigree, granulations and enamel. In their elegant
refinement of metalwork techniques, there is an affiliation with the less
modest inlaid gold ornaments found at Tillya-tepe, at the near eastern
frontiers.2 The other earrings found in Scythian burials mostly belong to
the later period i.e. 4th century onwards. The earrings of the middle
Scythian period include the boat-shaped earrings with rosette-ornamented
terminals as found from Volkovtsy 4 on the left bank of the Dniepr river,
and they belong to the fifth century B.C. They are made of gold with
'E.H.Minns, op. cit., Fig. 318.
2 Art. Scy., p.84.
