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 5 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Early Art of India
18 (of 43)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
177
used in the jewellery found from Scythian barrows.鹿 Especially noteworthy are
the large horned and small horned plaquettes (Plates 151,152)虏 from burial 3,
Tillya-tepe. These plaquettes were cast in the shape of curved horns with two
raised vertical stripes on the front. The rims have been perforated twice in both
the types. Similar ones (Plates 160,161) have been found from Taxila.3 The
Taxila plaquettes were made of copper, bronze and lead.
Horse accoutrements from Tillya-tepe have definite 艢aka/Scythian
affinities. Noteworthy are the temple pendants, which formed a striking part of
the ornamentation of these horse accoutrements. The temple pendant from
Tillya-tepe have two identical protomas or foreparts of a horse turned in
opposite directions, with almond or 'eye' shaped turquoise insets (Plate 195).4
Similar protomas of two horses were also found in the Luristan bronzes.5
Burial 4 at Tillya-tepe has yielded a bridle embellished with gold phalerae and
arched plaques with repouss茅 designs executed in the Scytho-Siberian style.6
Scythian jewellery of the western section have been discussed in Chapter IV
above.
2 Bac. Gol., p. 239, Figs. 30, 31.
3 Taxila, Pl. 179, nos.37-41; Pl. 181,nos. 168-176.
4 Bac. Gol., PL40.
鲁 R.Ghirshman, Notes Iraniennes IV : Le Tr茅sor De Sakkaez. Les
Origines De L'art M茅de Et Les Bronzes Du Luristan', Artibus Asiae, Vol. X,
1950, pp. 181-206.
6 鈿� Scytho-Siberian art style has been discussed in Chapter IV above.
