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
90 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Semirechye,鹿 near Almaty. An interesting lamp (Plate 104) from Alatau虏 had
as its attachments two camels (Plate 105),鲁 with typical Saka/Scythian style
of big eyes, round pupils, plump cheeks, and oblong holes as ear cavities.
Among the cult bronzes, a tiger-griffin (Plates 106 and 107) 4 representation
has also been found. Another lamp from Samal in the Semirechye area has
fifteen animal figurines set clockwise along the rim. With ears bulging out,
they have S-shaped horns, almond-like eyes and twisted tails. The lamp
has a vertically set hollow tube for a wick with two figurines of mounted
archers set symmetrically by the sides of the tube. The rider holds a
composite Scythian bow.5 A graceful figurine of a bronze winged panther
represents a fantastic animal with its twisted forepart. It (Plates 106 and
107) has narrow almond-shaped eyes and between its shoulder-blades, it
has a convex circle formed by two 'commas'.6
At present it is possible to distinguish two principal areas where 艢aka
bronzes were widespread. They are Sinkiang and Semirechye. Two finds
made beyond the Semirechye area include a fragment of an incense-burner
'F.P.Grigorev, R.Ismagil, 'The Cult Bronzes of Semirechye of the Saka Period',
Anc. Civ. Scy. Sib., Vol.3, p.241.
虏 Ibid., p.242, Fig.1.
3 Ibid., p.243, Fig.2.
4 Ibid., p.243, Figs.5,6.
6 Ibid., p.243, Figs.5,6.
"Ibid., p.246.
