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
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in both burial 4 of Tillya-tepe and Porogi.鹿 Kosika findings can be dated in the
middle of the first century A.D. The style can be related to that of the Siberian-
Altai nomadic world, on the wooden scabbards found at Borotab, Ulandryk,
Barbugazy barrows of the fourth and the third century B.C.2 The treatment of
the monsters on the Tillya-tepe scabbard is also apparent on the Kobyakovo
torque. The beards and manes of the wolf-headed dragons of the Kobyakovo
torque are executed in the same manner by interwoven braids and notches, as
the monsters on the Tillya-tepe scabbard (Plate 165).鲁 A number of stylistic
details of the Kobyakovo torque are reminiscent of the gold decorations of the
necropolis in Tillya-tepe at the threshold of the Christian era. Rich with diverse
turquoise inlays, the seven main shapes used in the Kobyakovo torque were
almond shape, rectangle, parallelogram, comma, etc., and were found
practically in the same combinations on the earrings, clasps and sword
scabbards from Northern Afghanistan (Plates 162,163,165).4 The mythical
creatures with human bodies and animal heads of the Kobyakovo torque wear
armour which are similar to that depicted on coins of Azes, and on a relief
found from Khalchayan in Uzbekistan. 5 The figurines of musicians from Tillya-
1 Ibid., p.51.
2 V.I.Sarainidi, Khram and Necropol' Tillya-tepe, Moscow 1989, p.98.
3 Bac. Gol., Pl. 160.
Ibid., Pls. 160-166.
5 M. Treister, 'Sarmatian Treasure of South Russia', Archaeology, Jan/Feb 1997, p.49.
