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Skythian Warriors with Spears
Scythian urn with warriors, Kul Oba kurhan, Crimea, 4th century BC
Plate 17
The shape and ornaments of this intriguing gold bottle are Greek, as is the workmanship, but the subject matter is taken from the daily life or mythology of the Scythians. Although many interpretations of the scenes have been proposed, none is certain. (Cat. no. 81)
81 (Color plates 17, 18)
The shape and ornaments of this vessel are Greek, as is the workmanship, but the subject matter is taken from the daily life or mythology of the Scythians. Although many interpretations of the scenes on this bottle have been proposed, none is certain.
Bottle with ring base depicting Scythians engaged in various activities: conversing, bow stringing, treating a mouth ailment, and bandaging a wounded leg. Raevsky interprets the decoration on this vessel as scenes from the myth about the origin of the Scythians recorded by Herodotus: represented are the three sons of the snake-legged goddess and Heracles (the Scythian Targitaus), who, before mounting the throne, had to string Heracles's bow. Only the youngest, Scythes, succeeded; the others, Agathyrsus and Gelonus, suffered wounds usual during an unsuccessful stringing: on the left side of the jaw and the calf of the left leg. Gold, height 13 cm. (5⅛ in.).
Greek workmanship, executed for the Scythians, 4th century B.C. Crimea, near Kerch, Kul Oba kurgan. Excavations, 1830.
Hermitage, KO 11. Artamonov, Splendor, pls. 226-229, 232, 233; Raevsky, SA (1970), no. 3, p. 90.
Source: pp. 64 & 112, "From the Lands of Scythians: Ancient Treasures from the Museums of the U.S.S.R., 3000 B.C.–100 B.C.": The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 32, no. 5 (1973–1974) Piotrovsky, Boris (1973–1974)
Title: Spherical Vessel with Representations of Scythians in Relief
Place: The Northern Black Sea Region
Date: Second half of the 4th century BC
Place of finding: Crimea, the environs of Kerch
Archaeological site: Kul Oba Barrow
Material:electron[electrum]
Technique: chasing, soldering, engraving, drawing
Dimensions: h. 13 cm
Acquisition date: Entered the Hermitage in 1831
Inventory Number: КО.-11
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
