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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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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region (Paropanisadai), North-western India including Taxila and Chipin, and
the lower Indus area etc. formed a commercial zone. The Indo-Greek's were in
possession of this zone or parts of it from the middle of the 3rd century B.C. to
late 1st century B.C. The economic importance of the territory, once ruled by
the Indo-Greeks, continued in the ages of the Scytho-Parthians. The same
trend continued under the Kush膩峁嘺s. Nomadic art manifests itself on Kush膩峁嘺
art, however, nomadic elements in Kush膩峁嘺 art are not dealt with in this
study.
Prior to the coming of the Saka-Pahlavas, Taxila had a rich tradition of
art due to the amalgamation of indigenous and foreign art traditions. This was
revealed by the excavated stratas at Taxila. The archaeological records show
the cultural changes, and also indicate an influx of Saka/Scythian art forms,
as apparent from the findings in the early Saka and Saka-Parthian strata at
Taxila. Taxila did not have burials. Therefore the utility objects, ornaments,
weapons and horse trappings were found from the Saka-Parthian strata.
Taxilan potteries from Scytho-Parthian levels have typical 艢aka/Scythian and
Scytho-Siberian motifs of simple parallel bands, chequered triangles, chevrons,
loops, quatrefoil crosses, trees and birds, zigzags and wavy lines.鹿 Ovoid-
Taxila, Pls. 130, 131.
