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—a 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 5 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Early Art of India
10 (of 43)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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as is well documented by the rich burial at Tillya-tepe. Hundreds of ornamental
plaques have been found in the Tillya-tepe burials, whose exact positioning
enables us to reconstruct the ornamental dècor of such parts of clothing as
cuffs, sleeves and hems. The reconstruction of the entire apparel would be like
the typical Scythian close-fitting tunic, as depicted on numerous Scythian
utility objects. Also the garb of a king on a pendant from Tillya-tepe is typically
Scythian. Even the annular, curltipped horns of the dragons with their
backward contorted quarters as depicted on this pendant, are peculiar to the
Scytho-Siberian animal style. Similarly executed dragons have been found
from Gonur stone amulets. The site of Gonur has been recently excavated and
is dated near about the first century A.D.2 Also, the motif of the horned and
winged horse on this pendant is very much similar to the winged and horned
horse motif found on a cap from Issyk barrow in Kazakhstan.³ Burial 1 at
Tillya-tepe has remains of a gold threaded apparel, showing the gold threads
with a multitude of pearls on them and some intricate designs edged with gold
plaques. These gold plaques (Plate 134) have an identical repoussé
ornamentation of the 'man with a dolphin' 4 The representation of the dolphin
is fairly realistic except in its body scales. Perhaps the goldsmith had a hazy
1 The typical Scythian costume is discussed in Chapter IV above.
V. Sarianidi, 'New Discoveries at Ancient Gonur', Anc. Civ. Scy. Sib., Vol.2, Fig.16.
3 K. A. Akishev, Kurgan Issyk, Moscow, 1978.
4 Bac. Gol, Pl. 86.
