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
67 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Gold earrings (Plate 77) from the central Aldy- Bel' burial barrow I, of
the Saryg-Bulun burial site, are reminiscent of the Taxila type.鹿 They
consist of conic pendants decorated with granules and comma-shaped
insets. So far the Arzhan barrow remains the only completely excavated
monument among the great barrows of Tuva, though there are several
other great barrows similar in appearance in the centre of the Ujuk
basin.Gold garment decorations (Plates 78 and 79) representing birds of
prey and an iron figurine inlayed with gold representing a predatory
animal虏 have been found from the burial site of Kosh-Pej, barrow 2, in
Tuva. The gold garment-decorations representing birds of prey are very
much similar with the birds of prey found in the western section specially
at Litoy kurgan (Plate 44)鲁 of seventh century B.C. Kosh-Pej has also
revealed gold garment-decorations (Plate 80) shaped as reposing panthers*
and a gold svastika-shaped decoration and iron buckles covered with gold
leaf (Plate 81).5 It is interesting that Chiliktin-type gold cornelian and
turquoise beads and gold hemispheric plaques with loops soldered on to
their back were found from Kosh-Pej. The garments of the dead buried in
the Ujuk barrows were covered with numerous decorations of gold. Eagles
2 鹿V.Semenov, K.Chugunov, op. cit., p.318, Fig.6.
虏 Ibid., pp.322,323,Figs.9,10.
3 V.Schiltz, op.cit., p.88, Pl.64.
*V.Semenov, K.Chugunov, op.cit., p.324, Fig. 11.
5 Ibid., p.325, Fig.12.
