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
65 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
109
always been an archaeological white spot. Now it has a colour; gold."1 In
the western section, plenty of gold has been found in the Scythian tombs in
Ukraine, but those pieces were produced in later centuries, either by or
under the influence of the Greeks. These new pieces虏 predate the other and
display a uniquely Scythian style, indicating that the Scythians were skilled
gold-smiths even before they encountered the Greeks. Included in the
cache from Tuva were two magnificent neck pieces, a buckle from an arrow
quiver, a headpiece ornament and foil fish used to decorate a horse's bridle.
There is abundant evidence that the nomads had the preference for gold
objects in both the western and eastern section. Bits and pieces of gold
and turquoise were recovered from Arzhan, in Tuva. The archaeology of
Tuva is and will remain mainly an archaeology of barrows, for in this
republic the number of barrow burials far exceeds that of all other groups
in the eastern section. A burial complex of the Scythian time was found
near Mount Kazylgan, and S. I. Vainstein, the archaeologist, suggested the
name of the Kazylgan culture for the Scythian-type culture of Tuva.鲁 Other
Scythian sites include the area on the river Ij in Todzhin region, as well as
the burial complexes of Ozen-Ala-Belig and Kokaael. The Kazylgan culture
spans from seventh to third centuries B.C. From the seventh to sixth
1 M.Edwards, Unearthing Siberian Gold', National Geographic, June 2003, p.129.
虏 Ibid., p.123.
3 V. Semenov, K.Chugunov, 'New evidence of the Scythian-type culture of Tuva',
Anc. Civ. Scy.Sib., Vol.2, p.311.
