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 6 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Later Art of India
3 (of 42)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Some minor regions of Saka/Scythian and 艢aka-Pahlava rule, from
the first century A.D. onwards, have been discussed in Chapter II. Among
the minor areas, mention may be made of modern Kashmir, Haryana.
Mathur膩, Saurashtra, Rajasthan and the western part of Madhya Pradesh,
from where various artifacts dated in the first century A.D. onwards reveal
the impact of the Saka/Scythian and Saka-Pahlava or Scytho-Parthian art
styles. Regions other than the areas ever ruled by the Saka/Scythians or
艢aka-Pahlavas also received the impact of the Saka/Scythian and Saka-
Pahlava styles in the formation of their art objects, as in Maharashtra,
upper Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Perhaps these areas
experienced the diffusion of the Saka/Scythian and 艢aka-Pahlava styles due
to their proximity or linkages via trade routes. Another factor could be the
expansion of these areas as a result of trade with the Andhra kingdoms,鹿
which seems to have strengthened the stylistic factor.
We go back to the three sites of Shotorak, Pait膩va and Kham Zargar,
located in the heart of the major areas of Saka/Scythian rule, i.e., between
the borderlands of India and the north-western part of the subcontinent, in
search of 艢aka/Scythian and Saka-Parthian art elements. The three sites.
Hist. Civ. Cen. As., Vol. II, p.203.
