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
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work.鹿 Among the objects, a wine jug with a trefoil rim and a lion face handle
has been found. The disc on which the lion's paw rests has traces of silver
inlay in the pattern of tendrils surrounding the paw. It was originally
soldered to the jug. A small vessel and its cover at Brahmapuri虏 has been
engraved with the motif of galloping horse, panther and a bear, a lion, a
winged mythical creature with eagle's beak, acquatic birds like geese and
strange fish-shaped motifs. A repouss茅 plaque of a mythical lion with beaked
eagle's head (perhaps a decorative piece) was also found from the
Brahmapuri hoard. Spouted pots with and without handles and having
animal-shaped spouts were found from Sisupalgarh, Paunar and Maheshwar
dated in the second century A.D.鲁 Spouts in the form of bird's beaks were
also found. Devnimori and Rangmahal have also yielded similar utility
vessels. May be they were of specialized use on certain occasions.4
Decorative timberwork of Punjab and Kangra manufactured in the
form of doors, door-surrounds, carved beams reflect nomadic traits. The
brackets (Plate 217) supporting the projecting balconies have intricately
I
' Ibid., p.78.
2 Karl Khandalawala, Lalit Kal膩, 7, 1960, Pl.XIX, F26-31,Pl.XX,32.4.
3 C.Margabandhu, op.cit., pp. 126鈥�127.
* Ibid., p.127.
