ANCIENT ARTS OF CENTRAL ASIA by Tamara Talbot Rice

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Tamara Talbot Rice
ANCIENT ARTS OF
CENTRAL ASIA

List of Illustrations

The author and publishers are grateful to the many official bodies, institutions and individuals mentioned below for their assistance in supplying original illustration material

1	Gold bull: pierced for pole support to canopy. From Royal Tomb at Maikop, c. 2300 BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
2	Two gold diadems: decorated with gold rosettes, probably mounted on felt or cloth. Royal Tomb, Maikop, c. 2300 BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
3	Silver goblet: decorated with animals and a landscape. Royal Tomb, Maikop, c. 2300 BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
4	Projection of the decoration of a silver goblet: animals and a landscape. Royal Tomb, Maikop, c. 2300 BC
5	Cup: gold filigree work with mounted stones of agalmatolite and turquoise. Trialeti, 17th barrow. c. 1000-2000 BC. Photo: National State Museum of Georgia, Tiflis
6	Silver cup (two views): processions of men and animals. Kurukh Tat near Trialeti, 5th barrow, c. 1000-2000 BC. Photo: National State Museum of Georgia, Tiflis
7	Bronze belt with hunting scene. Trialeti, c. 1200 BC. Photo: National State Museum of Georgia, Tiflis
8	Belt buckle: stylized stag and dog. Iron. Fifth century BC. Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
9	Belt buckle: stylized horse. Bronze open-work, Scythian. Caucasus, c. fifth century BC. L. 5⅓″ (13.5). Photo: courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
10	Belt buckle: horse. Iron. Fifth century BC. Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
11	Horse’s breast-plate (?) gold repoussé and filigree. Akhalgorisk horde, fifth century BC. Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
12	Gold head-dress terminals: Akhalgorisk horde, fifth century BC, H, 5⅛″ (13.0). Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
13	Silver bowl: so-called Kazbek dish from Stepantsminda, sixth century BC. Photo: National State Museum, of Georgia, Tiflis
14	Silver dish (detail): Papak, pitiarch of Ardashir. 220-241. Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
15	Gold head of a stag from Tageloni, first century AD. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences, Republic of Georgia
16	Iron terminal of man standing on the horns of a bull. Stepantsminda, mid-first millennium BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
17	Dagger: inscribed with cuneiform. ‘Marduk-nadin-abe, King of Babylon’. Bronze. L, 16¼″ (32.3). Kermanshah, twelfth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
18	Cheek-piece: human-headed, winged bull. Bronze. Luristan. Collection E. Graeffe, Brussels. Photo: ACC, Brussels
19	Gold stag: probably centre-piece to a shield. Kostromskaya. seventh-sixth century BC. c. 12″ (30.5). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
20	Gold leopard: chased and decorated with amber and enamel inlay. Probably centre-piece to a shield. Kelermes, seventh-sixth century BC. L. c. 12″ (30.5). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
21	Felt saddle-cloth (detail): stag being attacked by an eagle. Pazyryk, Mound I, fifth century BC. c. 12″ x 7½″ (30.5 x 19)
22	Aigrette (?): lion-gryphon couchant. Gold. embossed and chased, head alone being completely in the round. Oxus Treasure, Scythian, fifth-fourth century BC. L. 2½″ (6.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
23	Wooden necklet: carved stags. Pazyryk, Mound 2, fifth century BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
24	Carved stag: wood with leather antlers. Pazyryk, Mound 2, fifth century BC. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
25	Wall-hanging (detail): human-headed composite creature. Felt appliqué. Pazyryk, Mound 5, fifth century BC. State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad Photo: J. E. Dayton
26	Carpet (detail): border of elks and horsemen of Achemenian style. Wool 74½″ x 78¾″ (189 x 200). Persian, fourth- third century BC, Pazyryk, Mound 5. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
27	B-shaped belt buckle: The Hunt. Gold, Sarmatian, first century BC-first century AD. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
28	B-shaped belt buckle: man asleep beneath a tree with horses and two people. One of a pair. Gold. Sarmatian, first century BC-first century AD. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
29	Belt buckle: wolf and serpent fighting. Gold, originally inlaid with stone and paste. Siberia, first-second century AD. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
30	Wall-hanging (detail): the so-called Great Goddess being approached by a rider, Reconstruction. Felt appliqué. Pazyryk, Mound 5, fifth century BC. c. 10′ x 6′ (3.05 x 1.83 m). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
31	Silver dish: warriors throwing down their arms. Kulagysh. Seventh-eighth century AD. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
32	Plaque: two men fighting, and their horses. Bronze openwork. Ordos region, c. third century BC. H. 2½″ (6.5), L. 5″ (12.8). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
33	Harness plaque: fighting horses. Gilt bronze openwork. Ordos region, c. first century BC. W. 4¾″ (12.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
34	Plaque: fragment of a gilt bronze creature. Ordos region (?), fourth-first century BC. H. 2″ (5.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
35	Horse trapping: stylized creature. Bronze. Ordos region, Han dynasty. Photo: Musée Cernuschi, Paris
36	Bronze ritual vessel (ting): Li Yü, Shansi. Chinese, sixth century BC. H. 6″ (15.2). Photo: Musée Guimet, Paris
37	Rug (detail): wild gryphon attacking an elk. Wool, embroidered. Noin Ula, Tomb 6, c. first century AD onwards. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
38	Wall-hanging (detail): tigers. Wool, embroidered. Noin Ula, c. first century AD onwards. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
39	Wall-hanging (detail): two horsemen. Embroidery. Noin Ula, 6th barrow, c. first century AD onwards. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
40	Wall-hanging (detail): head of a Hun. Embroidery. Noin Ula, 25th barrow, c. first century AD onwards. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
41	Death-mask: painted clay. Tadjik. Second century BC. Photo: John Webb
42	Sword sheath (detail): scenes from a royal hunt - Median workmanship. Oxus Treasure, seventh-sixth century BC. Gold. L. 10⅞″ (27.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
43	Bronze gates (detail): Assyrian army of Shalmaneser III defeating Urartians in 859 BC. Balawat, ninth century BC. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
44	Relief (detail): Assyrian melting down Urartian statues. Room XIII, Nineveh, seventh century BC. After a drawing by Flandin from E. Botta, Monuments de Nineve, Vol. II.
45	Bronze plaque: Urartian building. Toprak Kale, eighth-seventh century BC. H. 11⅞″ (30.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
46	Bronze model of a tower. Urartian, eighth-seventh century BC. Toprak Kale. H. 6⅝″ (16.8). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
47	Ornament: man standing on a bull. Probably part of a throne, now broken up. Bronze, engraved. Urartian, eighth-seventh century BC. Toprak Kale. H. 8½″ (21.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
48	Ornament: human-headed, winged bull. Probably part of a throne, now broken up. Bronze, originally with inlaid stone face. Urartian, eighth-seventh century BC. Toprak Kale. H. 8¾″ (22.2). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
49	Ornament: lion terminal from a throne, now broken up. Part of a throne, now broken up. Urartian, eighth-seventh century BC. Toprak Kale. H. 8½″ (21.5). overall L. 11½″ (29.3). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
50	Bronze quiver: embossed with horsemen and chariots, Belonging to Sardur II. Urartian, c. seventh century BC. Karmir Blur. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
51	Bronze helmet: embossed with horsemen and chariots. Belonging to Argysht I. Urartian, seventh century BC. Karmir Blur. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
52	Bronze helmet (detail): horsemen and chariots. Belonging to Argysht I. Urartian, seventh-sixth century BC. Karmir Blur. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
53	Statuette: soldier. Bronze. H. 3¾″ (9.5). Urartian, eighth-seventh century BC. Photo: Musée du Louvre
54	Gold bowl: decorated with religious scenes. Hasanlu, Persia. Ninth-eighth century BC. H. 8½″ (21.5). W. 11″ (28.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Josephine Powell
55	Gold bowl (detail): goddess holding a mirror seated on a lion. Hasanlu, Persia, ninth-eighth century BC. H, 8½″ (21.5), W. 11″ (28.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Josephine Powell
56	Spouted vessel: mythical figure with winged human body and two animal’s heads, holding two sphinxes. Above, lion attacking a deer. Silver, inlaid with gold. Marlyk, late second-early first millennium, Diam 7½″ (18.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Dr E. O. Negahban
57	Gold vessel: winged bulls with heads in high relief between, trees of life. Marlyk, c. ninth century BC, H. 7½″ (19.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Dr E. O. Negahban
58	Zoomorphic ritual vessel in the form of a bear. Pottery. H. 11″ (28.0). Marlyk. c. ninth century BC. Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Dr E. O. Negahban
59	Silver vessel: warrior struggling with leopards. Engraved. Marlyk. c. ninth century BC. H. 5½″ (14.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Dr E. O. Negahban
60	Gold vase: double register of long-legged unicorns with scattered rosettes. Marlyk, ninth century BC. H. 7½″ (18.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Dr E. O. Negahban
61	Cauldron handle: gryphon. Gold. L. 3⅛″ (8.0), W. 2⅛″ (5.3). Ziwiye, seventh century BC. Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Josephine Powell
62	Gold pectoral: two registers of processions of winged creatures, and, at each end, a Scythian feline and hare. Ziwiye, seventh century BC. L. 13″ (33.0), W. 5¼″ (13.4), Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Josephine Powell
63	Gold plaque: stags, ibexes and lions’ masks. Comprises twenty-three fragments. Ziwiye, late seventh century BC. 11¾″ (30.0), W. 6¼″ (16.0). Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Josephine Powell
64	Dagger pommel in the form of a curled animal of Scythian type. Gold. H. ⅞″ (2.3), W. 1⅝″ (4.0). Ziwiye. c. 600 BC. Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc. Photo: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
65	Horses head: green jade. Chinese, Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). H. 7⅝″ (19.3). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
66	Horse: grey unglazed pottery with traces of unfired paint. Chinese, Six Dynasties (220-589). H. 24″ (61.0). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
67	Tomb relief: battle on a bridge showing native Chinese ponies. Rubbing from a tomb in North China. Han dynasty. After E. Charrunes. Mission archéologique dans le chine septentrionale, Paris, 1909
68	Ivory rhyton: horned creature, with friezes of mythological characters. Old Nisa, Royal Treasury, second century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
69	Ivory rhyton (detail): mythological characters. Old Nisa, Royal Treasury, second century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
70	Statue: King Shapur I. Stone (in situ) 26′ (7.90 m). Bishapur (Mudan Cave), second half of the third century. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
71	Statue: Parthian prince. Bronze. Temple of Shami, Persia, 6′ 3″ (1.90 m). Parthian, second century. Archaeological Museum, Teheran. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
72	Bowl: Triumph of Dionysus with Ariadne and Heracles in relief. Silver. Diam. 9″ (22.6). Parthian, c. 200. Oxus Treasure. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
73	Relief: Parthian rider. Terracotta. H. 5⅞″ (14.8). Musée du Louvre. Photo: Archives Photographiques
74	Wall-painting (detail): horsemen hunting onagers. Parthian, second century. Dura Europos. Musée du Louvre, Paris. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
75	Bowl: Shapur II hunting. Chased silver with traces of gilding. Diam. 9″ (22.6). Sassanian, fourth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
76	Ossuary (fragment): figures beneath arches, showing Zoroastrian deities. Terracotta. Bia Naiman. Soghdian, fifth-seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
77	Ossuary (reconstruction): figures of Zoroastrian deities beneath arches. Terracotta. Bia Naiman. Soghdian, fifth-seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad. After Borissov, 1940
78	Shield (fragment): horseman. Wood covered with leather. Mug Castle. Soghdian, eighth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
79	Stucco (fragment): carved decoration from a frieze. Soghdian, eighth century. Varaksha. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
80	Wall-painting (detail): drawing of a gryphon from Hall of Gryphons, Varaksha. Sogdhian, fifth-seventh century. State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad After Shyshkin, Varaksha
81, 82	Wall-painting: men mounted on elephants fighting lions and leopards. From western wall of central hall of palace, Varaksha. Soghdian, fifth-seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
83	Wall-painting (detail): Tocharist painter. Second temple building, Kizil. Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
84	Statue: ‘Balbal’ in stone, 6′ (1.80 m). Photo: Historical Museum, Moscow
85	Wooden statuette of a woman. Piandjikent, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
86	Wall-painting (reconstruction): the death of Syavush. Piandjikent, building XI, south wall, seventh-eighth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
87	Wall-painting (reconstruction): ritual scene, probably depicting the Nu Ruz sacrifice, with traces of Soghdian inscription. Piandjikent, building X, north wall, seventh-eighth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
88	Wall-painting: men playing chess. Piandjikent, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
89	Wall-painting: Rustam slaying the Dragon. Piandjikent, Room 41, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
90	Wall-painting (reconstruction): horsemen. Piandjikent, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
91	Wall-painting (reconstruction): Dehkans sitting at a feast, Piandjikent, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
92	Wall-painting (reconstruction): harpist with a halo. Piandjikent, seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
93	Textile (reconstruction) ducks in roundels. Figured silk banner, blue and green on natural ground. Soghdian (Bokhara), early eighth century. Chien fo-Tung. Original in the British Museum. After Sir M. A. Stein. Serindia. Photo: Courtesy Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
94	Textile (reconstruction): elks in roundels. Figured silk banner, pink and green. Soghdian (Bokhara). early eighth century. Chien fo-Tung. Original in the British Museum. After Sir M. A. Stein. Serindia. Photo: Courtesy Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
95	Textile (reconstruction): figured silk. Soghdian, first century AD. Moshchevja Balka (Kuban). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
96	Wall-painting: woman holding gold cups. Soghdian, fifth-sixth century. Balalyk Tepe. Photo: John Webb
97	Textile: boar’s head in roundel. Figured silk. Sassanian. sixth-seventh century. Astana. Photo: National Museum, New Delhi
98	Wall-painting (fragment): pigeon holding a necklace, Soghdian. fifth-seventh century. Gryphon Hall, Varaksha. After Shyshkin, Varaksha
99	Textile: bird-dog (senmerv). Said to have been found in the reliquary of the head of St Helena. Originally ornaments of a costume from a burial ground in Egypt. Figured silk. Sassanian, sixth-seventh century. Victoria and Albert Museum, Photo: John Webb
100	Ewer decorated with ladies beneath arches. Gold. H, 6¼″ (16.5). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
101	Dish: hunting scene. Silver. Soghdian, not earlier than seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
102,	103 Wall-paintings (fragments): human and tiger heads. Palace, Toprak Kala, third-fourth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
104	Sculpture: Alabaster head. Toprak Lila, third century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
105	Statue: fragment of a woman. Unbaked, painted clay. Over life-size. Palace, Toprak Kala, third century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
106	Frieze: rosettes and palmettos. Stucco. Teshik Kala. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
107	Statuette: river goddess (yakshi). Ivory, part of a piece of furniture. Begram, date uncertain, probably first-fourth century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
108	Ivory: two water goddesses. Fragment of furniture. Begram, date uncertain, probably first-fourth century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
109	Ivory: water goddesses. Fragment of furniture. Begram, date uncertain, probably first-fourth century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
110	Glass bottle: probably imported from Syria. Begram, first-fourth century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
111	Frieze: busts of youths and girls - musicians and garland-bearers. Stone. Possibly from a Buddhist temple. Airtam. First century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
112	Frieze (detail): bust of a musician. Stone. Possibly from a Buddhist temple. Airtam. First century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
113	Coin: Eucratedes and (reverse) two horses. Silver tetradrachma, c. 180-150 BC. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
114	Coin: Demetrius helmetted. Silver tetradrachma of Demetrius. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
115	Coin: Euthydemus in old age. Silver tetradrachma wearing a laurel wreath, c. 230. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
116	Coin: Eucratedes. Gold stater. Bactrian, 170-165 BC. Photo: Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris
117	Silver gilt bowl: hunting scenes. North-west India, fifth-sixth century. L. 6½″ (16.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
118	Silver bowl: scenes from Tragedies of Euripides (Alcestis, Alope. Bacchae and Ion). Kustanai, first-second century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
119	Silver bowl: two scenes from Syleus. Heracles, slave of Syleus, and Heracles slaying his master after a feast. Seventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
120	Silver phalera: goddess with a bow. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
121	Silver disc: elephant and riders. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
122	Mirror: with graeco-bactrian designs. Bronze. Diam. 9⅛″ (32.3). Han dynasty (c. 200 BC-AD 220). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
123	Gold armlet: with gryphon terminals, and originally inlaid with coloured stones. One of a pair, the other is in the British Museum. Oxus Treasure. Persian, fifth century BC. H. 5″ (123), diam. 4½″ (11.5). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
124	Gold ring: embossed in the form of a lion (?). Originally set with coloured stones and turquoises. Oxus Treasure. Scythian, fifth-fourth century BC. Diam. 1½″ (3.6). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
125	Bronze lion-gryphon: cast and chased. Said to have been found near Helmund river. Bactrian, fourth century BC. H. 10” (24.9). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
126	Pendant: figure of Hariti. Gold repoussé with pearls and garnets. Taxila area, third-fourth century. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
127	Pendant: gold-encrusted with jewels. Taxila. Kushan period. c. 100 BC-AD 100. Photo: National Museum, Karachi
128	Bowl: a yaksha, perhaps Kuvera, drinking. Silver embossed and chased. Kushan, third-fourth century. Buddhaghana. north-west India. Diam. 10” (25.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
129	Reliquary: figures beneath arches. Gold, inlaid with rubies. Buddhist stupa at Bimaran. Kushan. first century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
130	Statue: King Kanishka, inscribed ‘The king, king of kings, His Majesty Kanishka’. Pink sandstone, originally enhanced with metal plaques. H. c. 5′ 7″ (1.70). Kushan, second century. Photo: Archaeological Museum, Mathura
131	Coin: Bull of Siva. Gandharan. Spalapati Dera, early tenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
132	Coin: King Kanishka and (reverse) the goddess Ardoksha holding a cornucopia. Gold. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
133	Relief: Hariti and Pancika. Grey schist or limestone. Takht-i-Bahr. North-west India. Gandhara. third-fourth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
134	Head of a Bodhisattva. Pink sandstone. Kushan style. Mathura, second century. H. 4″ (10.2). Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo: John Webb
135	Relief: tree spirit (yakshi). Pink sandstone. H. 20½″ (33.0). Jain stupa at Mathura. Kushan, second century. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum. crown copyright
136	Head of Buddha. Red sandstone. Kushan, c. first century. Mathura. H. 1′ 10½″ (57.0). Photo: Archaeological Museum, Mathura
137	Head of Buddha Lime composition with traces of red paint on the lips. Gandhara. Romano-Buddhist style, fourth-fifth century. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
138	Head of Buddha. Grey schist. Gandhara. second-third century. H. 1′ 4″ (40.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
139	Statue of a seated Buddha (Dharmacka mudra). Gandhara, second-third century. c. 3′ (94.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
140	Statue of a Bodhisattva. Stone. H. 3′ 7″ (1.09 m). Gandhara, second century. Photo: Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
141	Model stupa. Gandhara. Valley of Swat. Photo: Museum of Indian Art. Calcutta
142	Relief: Prince Siddartha (later Buddha) driving to school in a chariot drawn by two rams. Beside walk his companions holding inkpots and writing boards. Schist. Gandhara, Romano-Buddhist. second-fourth century. Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
143	Relief: death of Buddha. Gandhara, Romano-Buddhist style, second-third century. Takht-i-Bahr, north-west India, Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
144	Relief: Prince Siddartha in his harem. Stone. Gandhara, second-third century. Takht-i-Bahr, north-west India. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
145	Statue: goddess with flowers. Limestone. H. 1′ 7″ (48.0). Hadda, third-fourth century. Photo: Musée Guimet, Paris
146	Statue head of monk, Lime composition. H. c. 4″ (10.0). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
147	Statue: head of a warrior. Lime composition. Romano-Buddhist style, fourth-fifth century. Hadda. H. c. 4″ (10.0). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
148	Statue: head of a demon (yaksha). Stone. Romano-Buddhist style. Hadda, fourth-fifth century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
149	Colossal statue of Buddha. Rock-hewn, folds modelled on rope covered with plaster. West of Bamyan. H. 175′ (53.4 m). Fourth-fifth century. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
150	Wall-painting: Mandorla with Buddha preaching, surrounded by small Buddha figures. From a dome, Bamyan. fifth-sixth century. Diam. c. 34″ (86.5). Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
151	Wall-painting: the hunter king. From drum of a dome, Kakrak, Fifth-sixth century. L. 4′ 3½″ (1.3 m). Photo: Josephine Powell
152	Wall-painting: Bodhisattva surrounded by figures. Bamyan, group K, cave 3. Fifth-sixth century. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
153	Relief (detail): The hunt. Stone. Sassanian, fifth-sixth century. Taq-i-Bustan, Persia. Author’s photo
154	Wall-painting: Buddha in meditation. Balawaste, mid-sixth century. H. c. 1′ 7½″ (49.5). National Museum, New Delhi. Photo: Josephine Powell
155	Wall-painting (detail): pigeons with necklaces. Bamyan. Photo: Josephine Powell
156	Wall-painting (detail): tusked boat. Bamyan. Photo: Josephine Powell
157	Sarcophagus cover: princely couple. Painted terracotta. Fundukistan, Niche E, sixth-seventh century. Kabul Museum. Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
158	Wooden plaque: Blue Lotus Maitreya. Fundukistan Niche F, seventh century. W. 9½″ (24.0). Kabul Museum. Photo: Josephine Powell
159	Ewer: horseman hunting with bow and arrow, the so-called ‘Parthian shot’. Pottery, glazed with yellow and blue. H. 12½″ (31.8). Chinese, T’ang dynasty (618-906). Photo: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
160	Ewer: bird-dog (senmerv). Silver. Sassanian, or post-Sassanian. After Y. I. Smirnov, Oriental Silverware
161	Amphora: handles are two stylized dragons. White pottery with brown glaze. Chinese, T'ang dynasty (618-906). H. 12¾″ (32.0). Collection Mr Samuel Lee, Tokyo. Photo, Thames and Hudson Archives
162	Seals: impressions from documents. Left, Chinese, right, Graeco-Romano figure. Niya. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
163	Wooden chair: Niya, third century. H. 23″ (60.5). W. 26″ (61.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
164	Pilgrim flask: The Nativity. Red painted pottery. Eastern Mediterranean, fourth-sixth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
165	Pilgrim flask: lute player and dancer among foliage. Stoneware, glazed brown, over white slip. Chinese, T’ang dynasty (618-906). H, 8⅝″’ (22.0), W. 7½″ (19.0). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
166	Statuette: figure of a dancer, probably a Chorasmian, Olive-green glaze. Chinese, T’ang dynasty (618-906). H. 8½″ (19.0). Photo: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
167	Statuette: figure of a youth with Graeco-Romano features. Unglazed grey pottery with traces of colour. Chinese, T’ang dynasty (618-906). H. 5⅛″ (13.0). Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, crown copyright
168	Statuette: woman polo-player. Unglazed pottery with traces of colour. Chinese, T'ang dynasty (618-906). H. c. 11¾″ (30.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
169	Textile: ponies. Printed silk, blue and yellow. Chinese, ninth-tenth century, Chien fo-Tung. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
170	Textile: repeat pattern of animals and Chinese characters. Polychrome silk. Later Han dynasty. Photo: National Museum, New Delhi
171	Statuette: a warrior. Carved stucco. H. 12″ (30.5). Mingoi, near Sorçuk, eighth-tenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
172	Statuette: fragment of a horse. Carved stucco. Mingoi, near Sorçuk. eighth-tenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
173	Statuette: head of a camel. Carved stucco. L. c. 12″ (30.5). Mingoi, near Sorçuk, eighth-tenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
174	Head of a laughing man. Carved stucco. Mingoi. near Sorçuk, eighth-tenth century. H. c. 2″ (5.0). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
175	Wall-painting: swimmers, Cave of the Navigator, Kizil, c. 500. W. 13½″ (30.9). Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Karl H. Paulmann
176	Wall-painting: goddess and celestial musician. Cave of the Painted Floor, Kizil. c. 600-650. W. 4′ 5″. Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Karl H. Paulmann
177	Wall-painting: female donors. Sorçuk, Cave VII, eighth-ninth century. H. 8¾″ (22.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
178	Wall-painting worshipping Bodhisattva. Kumtura, eighth-ninth century. H. 23⅞″ (60.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
179	Wall-painting: donors. Cave of the Sixteen Sword-bearers, Kizil, c. 600-650, H. 5′ 3″ (1.6m). Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Karl H. Paulmann
180	Wall-painting: dance of Queen Candraprabha. Treasure Cave, Kizil, c. 500. H. 5′ 3″ (1.6 m). Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Karl H- Paulmann
181	Wall-painting: head of a young ascetic. Cave of the Navigator, Kizil, c. 500. W. 13¾″ (30.9). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
182	Wall-painting: head of Ascetic Mahakasyapa. Large cave, Kizil, 600-650. H. 15¾″ (40.0). Staatliche Museen, Berlin. Photo: Karl H. Paulmann
183	Scroll: Buddha addressing Subhuti, from the Diamond Sutra. Chinese, 868. Tun-huang. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
184	Wall-painting: Buddha beneath a canopy. Koço, seventh-eighth century. H. c. 8″ (20.5). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
185	Wall-painting: the future Buddha renouncing the world. Koço, ninth century. H. 10¾″ (27.4). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
186	Wall-painting: portrait of Mani (?). Manichean. Koço, Ruin K, early ninth century. 5′ 6″ x 2′ 10″ (1.65 x 0.96 m). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
187	Wall-painting: Uygur prince. Bezeklik, Temple 19. eighth-ninth century. W. 8⅜″ (12.4). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
188	Wall-painting; Uygur princesses. Bezeklik, ninth century. H. 21¼″ (53.9). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
189	Silk: Uygur prince. Koço, ninth century (?). W. c. 14″ (31.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
190	Miniature: a Turcoman prisoner. Kazvin school, c. 1575 (MS. Ouseley Add. 173, fol. 1 r.). Photo: Bodleian Library, Oxford
191	Portrait of Chengis Khan. National Central Museum, Tainan (Formosa). Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
192	Wall-painting: dragon leaping out of the water. Bezeklik, Temple 19, ninth-tenth century. H. 25″ (32.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
193	Wall-painting: musicians. Bezeklik, eighth century. Private collection, Tokyo
194	Wall-painting: Palm Sunday (?). Nestorian, Koço, temple at Eastern Gate, late ninth century, 23½″x 25″ (30.5 x 32.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
195	Wall-painting: worshipper, Nestorian. Koço, temple at Eastern Gate, late ninth century. 17⅛″ x 8¼″ (33.0 x 12.0). Photo: Staatliche Museen, Berlin
196	Wooden plaque: two youths riding. Dandan-Uilik, Sanctuary D. VII, c. seventh century. 13⅛″ x 7″ (33.5 x 17.8). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
197	Wooden plaque: four-armed, three-faced deity seated cross-legged on a cushion supported by two couchant bulls (recalling Brahmanic Siva Avolokitesvara). Painted on both sides. Dandan-Uilik, ruined dwelling, c. seventh century. c. 12¾″ x 8″ (32.5 x 25.4), Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
198	Banner: the Bodhisattva Namasangiti. Western Tibet, sixteenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
199	Sculpture: Maitreya. Bronze. Tibet, fifteenth century. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
200	Wooden plaque: three seated Bodhisattvas. Painted on both sides. Dandan-Uilik, c. eighth century. Sanctuary, D.X.3. Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
201	Wooden plaque: ‘The Silk Princess’. Dandan-Uilik, Sanctuary D.X., c. seventh century. 7½″ x 4⅝″ (19.0 x 11.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
202	Wall-painting: youths with garlands. Miran, Shrine V, late third century. Photo: National Museum, New Delhi
203	Wall-painting: religious scene. Miran, late third century. H. c. 29″ (73.8). Photo: National Museum, New Delhi
204	Interior view of Cave CXCVI: Buddha, Lohans, Bodhisattvas and painted walls. Tun-huang, eighth century. Photo: Arthaud
205	Silk-hanging: Bodhisattva holding a transparent bowl. Tun-huang, 2′ 7½″ x 10″ (80.0 x 25.5). Photo: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum
206	Statue: Lokapala. Painted clay. Cave CXCVI, Tun-huang, eighth century. Photo: Arthaud
207	Wall-painting (detail): dancing ladies. Cave CDXXVIII, early sixth century. Tun-huang. Photo: Arthaud
208	Statues: the disciples Ananda and Kasyapa. Tun-huang, early seventh century. Photo: Arthaud
209	Anberd castle on the promontory at the confluence of the Anberd and Arkhashan rivers. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
210	Miniature: The Annunciation. Etchmiadzin Gospel (Maternadaran 2374). Armenian, 989, executed in the Monastery of Novavank, Siunik. 11″ x 7⅞″ (28.0 x 19.5). Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
211	Miniature: The Baptism of Christ. Etchmiadzin Gospel (Maternadaran 2374). Armenian, 989, executed in the Monastery of Novavank, Siunik. 11″ x 7⅞″ (28.0 x 20.0). Photo: Thames and Hudson Archives
212	Side of carved stone from a church at Gaiana, ninth-tenth century. Photo: Mme Thierry
213	Textile (reconstruction): two seated figures in a roundel. Moshchevaja Balka, Armenia, c. third century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
214	Column capital: confronted peacocks. Carved wood. Sevan cathedral, Armenia, ninth-tenth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
215	Wall-painting: St Gregory the Illuminator converting Armenia to Christianity, and The Dormition of the Virgin. Church of St Gregory Tigrane-Honentz, Ani. Thirteenth century. Photo: Ara Güler
216	City walls, Ani, Armenia. Late tenth century. Photo: Ara Güler
217	View of the entrance of the Palace, Ani, Armenia. Author’s photo
218	Cathedral, Ani, Armenia, 989-1001. Photo: Ara Güler
219	Church of St Gregory of Abughamrentz, Ani. Mid-ninth century. Photo: Ara Güler
220	Relief: King Gagik. West façade of the church of Aghtamar. Lake Van, 915-921. Photo: Josephine Powell
221	Column capital (detail): bull’s head. The Sion, Bolinsk. 478/9-493/4. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
222	Column capital (detail): lions and deer. South pilaster of altar screen. The Sion, Bolinsk, fifth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
223	Stone relief: Stephanos I, Patriarch of Kavtli, east side of Djvari church, seventh century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
224	Stone relief: The Kuropolate Ashot. Opiza church, 826. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
226	Silver disc: St Mamas on a lion. Georgian. sixth-seventh century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
227	Silver icon (detail): St John. Cover of the Bertsk Gospels. Silver. By Beshken Opizari, 1184-93. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
228	Silver plaque: two saints. c. Eighth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
229	Stone relief: altar screen from Tsebelda, sixth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
230	Exterior view of Ateni church, tenth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
231	Column capital: Kutais cathedral. Georgian, early twelfth century. Author’s photo
232	East front of the church of St Tzkhoveli, Mskheta, 1029. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
233	Atzghuri castle. Georgia. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
234	An old house in Moshir at the foot of the Oashta in Swanetia. Author’s photo
235	Exterior view of Djvari church from the south-east, seventh century. Author’s photo
235	Exterior view of Tzromi church. Seventh century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
236	Sketch for a mosaic: Head of Christ. Tzromi church, seventh century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
237	Wall-painting: Christ between the symbols of the Sun and Moon. Cave church at Dodo, David Garedzha. eighth-ninth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
238	Wall-painting (detail): Archangel. Cave church of Dodo, David Garedzha, eighth-ninth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
239	Miniature: St Mark. Dzhruchi Gospel. Georgian, tenth century (H. 1660, fol. 92 v.). Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
240	Miniature: St Mark healing the Blind. Dzhruchi Gospel, tenth century (H. 1660, fol. 93). Photo: Georgian National Museum, Tiflis
241	Triptych: The Khakuli Icon. Gold repoussé and filigree, inlaid with Georgian and Byzantine enamels and precious stones. Central panel shows the Virgin. Twelfth and tenth century respectively, 6′ 6″ x 4′ 9″ (2 x 1.47 m). State Museum of Georgia, Tiflis. Photo: Cercle d’art, Paris
242	Khukuli Icon (detail): Christ Pantocrater; (circle below) Archangel Gabriel (below left) SS John and Mark; (below centre) St Gregory the Theologian. Georgian enamels, twelfth century. State Museum of Georgia. Tiflis. Photo: Cercle d’art, Paris
243	Gelat monastery, founded by King Bagrat III, tenth century. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
244	Mosaic (detail): The Virgin. Gelat monastery, 1125-30. Photo: Georgian Academy of Sciences
245	Photograph taken at the beginning of this century showing a man from Ossetia wearing armour consisting of leather breast-plates, similar to that worn by the Tadjiks. Author’s photo
246	Bronze cauldron, with animals mounted on the handles. Daghestan, thirteenth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
247	Bronze cauldron showing mounted rider, Daghestan. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
248	Bronze cauldron (viewed from above): confronted animals. Daghestan. H. 18¾″ (48.0). Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
249	Stone relief: horseman. Upper portion of a window from a mosque at Kubachi, eleventh century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
250	Stone relief: the hunt. Daghestan, twelfth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
251	Stone relief: horsemen fighting. Kubachi twelfth-thirteenth century. Photo: State Hermitage Museum, Leningrad
252	Bowl: floral decorations in underglaze colours. Kubachi ware, sixteenth century. H. 4½″ (11.4), diam, 12″ (30.5). Author’s collection. Photo: John Webb

The maps were specially drawn by Mr John Woodcock
Map 1 - Caucasus
Map 2 - Central Asia

Ancient arts of Central Asia by Rice, Tamara Talbot at archive.org.