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
47 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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picked out with granules of gold. In its fine exploitation of enamelled areas,
this torque, like the single terminal, continues the interest in coloristic
effects noted with reference to Scythian earrings and temple pendants. A
torque with smooth ropes having lion-head terminals was found at Talayev
barrow, Crimea(fourth century B.C.).鹿 This torque (Plate 34) is based on a
solid gold rope. The ornamentation of the collars consists of a braided
pattern separating and bordering large areas ornamented with long S-
shapes of wire, and with scrolled centres punctuated with granules. The
closest comparisons to this formulation come out of the materials of
Central Asian burials, like the Issyk Kurgan and other Siberian burials.2 At
Kul Oba a gold smooth rope torque, 3 with terminals in the form of
recumbent lions (Plate 35), reveals realistic treatment and the general form
is that of a single band terminating in the bodies of predatory felines,
reminiscent of torque traditions from the Altay Pazyryk culture. It is similar
to the Karagodeuashkh spiralled torque (Plate 36).4 A spiralled smooth
rope torque (Plate 37) terminating in recumbent lions, and made of gold
was found from Chertomlyk.5 At the ends of the torque appear crouched
felines in the form of panthers or lionesses. According to Kubarev, the
1 Ibid., Pls. 236, 237.
2 Art. Scy., p. 122.
3 Scy. Art, Pl. 125.
* Ibid., Pl. 240.
S Ibid., Pl. 239.
