Papers by Iurii Polidovych
ONE OF THE EPISODES OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SCYTHIAN ANIMAL STYLE
Yu. B. Polidovich
The a... more ONE OF THE EPISODES OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE SCYTHIAN ANIMAL STYLE
Yu. B. Polidovich
The article is devoted to fantastic images from the earliest Scythian burial mounds excavated by N. Veselovsky near the village of Kelermesskaja in the Kuban region in 1904.
(in Ukrainian)
У статті аналізується зображення відокремленої голови хижого птаха, вирізьблене на кістяній пласт... more У статті аналізується зображення відокремленої голови хижого птаха, вирізьблене на кістяній пластині, знайденій у шарі кінця VI – першій половині V ст. до н. е. на Східному Більську ще у 1980 р. Зображення має чіткі стилістичні ознаки, що дозволило окреслити певне коло аналогій. Найперше це зображення на кістяних або рогових виробах з Березанського поселення та Ольвії, а також вторинні гравірування на бронзовому дзеркалі з некрополя Ольвії. Всі вони датуються в межах VI ст. до н. е., а найбільш схожим є зображення з Березані. Друга група аналогій представлена на виробах з металу – золота (пластинки-оббивки дерев’яних чаш) та бронзи (навершя), – що походять зі степових курганів. Ці зображення датуються вже початком V ст. до н. е. Виділена група зображень відокремленої пташиної голови розглядається в контексті видозмін образотворчої традиції в скіфському «звіриному стилі» на протязі VІ–V ст. до н. е. Акцентується також культурний зв’язок між Більським городищем та античними містами.
Yu. Polidovych
SCYTHIAN PLATE BRACELETS OF THE 4th century BC
Scythian wide plate bracelets ... more Yu. Polidovych
SCYTHIAN PLATE BRACELETS OF THE 4th century BC
Scythian wide plate bracelets made of gold and silver are analyzed in the paper. Such items were distributed mainly in the steppes of the Dnieper region in the first — third quarters of the 4th century BC. 37 bracelets are known from 15 jewelry sets
and 1 unknown assemblage. All items have bent long edges and central relief ribs — one (31 items) or two (6 items). Plate bracelets were worn by men and women, they were passed on to children as an inheritance. The men-rulers (from Solokha and Kul-Oba barrows) were buried with 5—10 such bracelets.
In the side tomb of the Solokha barrow, the earliest bracelets (first quarter of the 4th century BC) belonging to the Scythian ruler were found. It is assumed that later these items became a sign of belonging to the circle of his descendants or other persons of the elite of Scythian society. Our knowledge is limited by the fact that the largest Scythian mounds of the 4th century BC were looted (the Chmyreva Mohyla, Chortomlyk, Oguz, Kozel, Tovsta Mohyla and others barrows). And we don’t know for sure whether the Scythian rulers wore such bracelets. However, most of the bracelets
were found in elite barrows. This is the burial of the woman and two warriors from the Chortomlyk barrow, the woman and the child from the Tovsta Mohyla barrow, the man and the woman from the Kul-Oba barrow, the man from barrow 8 of the Five Brothers group. The jewelry sets that belonged to these persons are distinguished by their extraordinary splendor. This is «golden» clothing, exquisite neck and chest adornments, earrings, rings. Women’s jewelry sets from the Deev and 1st Mordvinovski barrows show the special status of their owners. Perhaps they were priestesses of the Scythian fertility goddess Api. Findings of plate bracelets in the burials of children (from the Tovsta Moghyla and the Auly barrows) and a teenager (from the barrow 10 near the Mala Lepetykha village) probably indicate the passing of these products as an inheritance.
Мистецька стилістика, техніка та змістовність за доби раннього заліза Євразії, 2023
Представлено повний перелік наукових робіт Полідовича Ю.Б. Вони присвячені дослідженню різних асп... more Представлено повний перелік наукових робіт Полідовича Ю.Б. Вони присвячені дослідженню різних аспектів скіфської культури, зокрема, скіфського "звіриного стилю", проблемам археології доби пізньої бронзи, публікації матеріалів розкопок курганів доби бронзи - середньовіччя, дослідженню середньовічної кам'яної скульптури, пам'яток українського та зарубіжного золотарства, публікації матеріалів досліджень німецьких колоній Приазов'я і українських сіл Донеччини тощо.
Y. B. Polidovych, E. O. Velychko
BARROWS OF SCYTHIAN AGE NEAR VELYKI BUDKY VILLAGE IN SULA
RIVER ... more Y. B. Polidovych, E. O. Velychko
BARROWS OF SCYTHIAN AGE NEAR VELYKI BUDKY VILLAGE IN SULA
RIVER BASIN: ARCHIVAL DATA AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
The paper is focused on the barrows of the Scythian Age, excavated near Velyki Budky village in Sula River basin (Romny district, Sumy region). In the last decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries they were excavated by Serhii Mazaraki, Nikolai Brandenburg, Dmitrii Samokvasov, Ivan Lynnychenko and, possibly, Vikentii Khvoika. According to the survey of kurgans in 1927, Mykhailo Semenchyk wrote that all the kurgans
near the Velyki Budky village were excavated. These are several dozen kurgans located on the right bank of the Sula River and grouped into 4 groups. Three groups are localized to the east of the village: group I «Kapitalovshchyna» — on the plateau; group II «Provallia» was concentrated on a small cape at the confluence of the Khmelivka River with the Sula River; group III extended along the right bank of the Sula River. Most of the kurgans of these groups are located inside a large area surrounded by a rampart and a moat. The origin and dating of the defensive structures is unknown. Group IV «Popova Kaliuzha» was located west of the Velyki Budky village. The information about 11 excavated kurgans is available. It is preserved in the first publications and the inventory book of the Kyiv Art, Industrial and Scientific Museum (now the National Museum of the History of Ukraine). We can also ascertain the data on 6 barrows based on entries in the inventory book. The kurgan No. 1, excavated in 1897 by Sergii Mazaraki, sticks out among others due to the completeness of the data and the wealth of the items. However, much information about excavations and items is inaccurate and confusing. It is possible that further research will make a history of studies of kurgans near the Velyki Budky village more understandable, and the information about items is more reliable.
S. V. Didenko, O. Ya. Kutsenyak, Yu. B. Polidovych
THE LION HEAD-SHAPED BRONZE PLATES FROM SCYTHI... more S. V. Didenko, O. Ya. Kutsenyak, Yu. B. Polidovych
THE LION HEAD-SHAPED BRONZE PLATES FROM SCYTHIAN
ASSEMBLAGES OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF DNIPRO RIGHT BANK
Two sets of bronze plates originating from two assemblages of the Dnipro Right Bank forest-steppe are studied in the paper. The set from the barrow No. 4 (fig. 1) near Beresniahy village includes the image of a lion head full-face (10 units) and in profile (2 units).
The full-face view of the head is unique and has no analogues. Paired profile plates have a complete analogue in a pair of plates, originating from the barrow near the Stebliv village (Serhii Crichton collection). Presumably,
both sets were made by the same master from the same molds. The researchers date the barrow No. 4 near Beresniahy village within the second quarter — the mid5th century BC. The plates with the image of the lion head from this assemblage are the earliest images of this predator, made in traditions close to the Scythian «animal style». The image of the head of a cat family predator on bronze plates from barrows No. 400 and
401 near Zhuravka village on the Dnipro Right Bank is earlier and may have been the source of the artistic motif. Image of the predator head from barrow No. 491 near Makiivka village is also earlier. It is made in the
traditions of the Scythian «animal style». The images on a gold plate from barrow No. 3 near Orlyk village on the Dnipro Left Bank and on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the necropolis of Greek city of Nymphaeon, Eastern Crimea are similar to the lion heads from Beresniahy and Stebliv. The most eastern is a bronze plate from the Voskresensk hillfort in the Southern Ural. Another version of the motif is presented on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the Aksyonovsky-I cemetery in Lower Volga Region and from the Ananino cemetery in the Volga-Kama region.
В статті розглядаються зображення відособлених голів птахів V ст. до н. е., у відтворенні яких ви... more В статті розглядаються зображення відособлених голів птахів V ст. до н. е., у відтворенні яких використано прийом зооморфної трансформації через своєрідне «перетікання» однорідних персонажів (найчастіше, двох, або інколи трьох чи чотирьох) один в одного. Це реалізувалося переважно за двома схемами: накладанням закрученого дзьоба одного птаха на око іншого (потроєння або ж подвоєння образу), або ж накладання ока одного птаха на око іншого (переважно подвоєння). В декількох випадках було використано обидві схеми.
Стаття присвячена атрибуції двох срібних корон, що зберігаються в Скарбниці Національного музею і... more Стаття присвячена атрибуції двох срібних корон, що зберігаються в Скарбниці Національного музею історії України. Завдяки світлині 1878 р., зробленої фотографом Міхалом Ґреймом, достовірно встановлено їх походження з Вірменського собору в м. Кам’янець-Подільському. Проводиться аналіз художніх особливостей виробів, який дозволив датувати їх виготовлення кінцем ХVII ст. Аналізуються історичні умови появи шат ікони Богородиці, частиною яких були корони, та самої ікони. Завдяки фото стала можливою атрибуція й скіпетра, який також був частиною шат, а нині зберігається в фондах Національного заповідника «Києво-Печерська лавра».
Стаття присвячена кам'яній статуї половецького часу, що експонується у відділі «Музей історії Укр... more Стаття присвячена кам'яній статуї половецького часу, що експонується у відділі «Музей історії України» Львівського історичного музею. Це чоловіча повнофігурна скульптура, виготовлена наприкінці 12-у перших десятиліттях 13 ст. Збереженість статуї є незадовільною, сильно пошкоджено деякі її частини. Водночас збереглися зображення деяких атрибутів (шаблі та сагайдака), властиві для статуй цього типу. За архівними даними, «кам'яну бабу» перевезли до Львівського історичного музею 1952 р. із Дніпропетровщини. Проте жодних детальніших свідчень не збереглося. Цілком можливо, що її передали із Дніпропетровського державного історичного музею, де було зосереджено найбільшу в Україні колекцію середньовічної кам'яної скульптури. У експозиції статуя посіла своє місце 1972 р.
TWO SCYTHIAN PLAQUES FROM SERHII KREITON’S COLLECTION
OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF U... more TWO SCYTHIAN PLAQUES FROM SERHII KREITON’S COLLECTION
OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE
The article is dedicated to two bronze plates of the Scythian period from the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. They came to the museum from the collection of Serhii Kreiton in the spring of 1920. Serhii Kreiton was a military man, one of the founders of the Kyiv Military Historical Museum, which existed in 1911–1919. His archaeological collection is probably associated with this museum, which included items from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The plaques represent figured images of isolated rear parts of animals. One of them (inventory number B 2279; fig. 1, 1) is a part of an ungulate, the second (inventory number B 2587; fig. 2, 1) is a part of a predatory creature. They have certain analogies that allow dating them to the second half of the 5th century BCE. Both plaques were part of the decoration of a horse’s bridle. They were part of a set of items that represented a detachable image of a fantastic animal.
Yu. B. Polidovych, Ye. O. Velychko Gorytos Jewelry from the 1st Vovkivtsі Mound (1897)
The arti... more Yu. B. Polidovych, Ye. O. Velychko Gorytos Jewelry from the 1st Vovkivtsі Mound (1897)
The article examines the gold plates that decorated the gorytos found by S. A. Mazaraki in 1897 in the Scythian mound No. 1 near the village of Vovkivtsi (Romny Region). On the basis of the analysis, it is concluded that the plate with the image of a lion could have been cut from the upholstery of the Chortomlyk type gorytos or made according to the same matrix. Plates depicting the scene of a predator attacking a goat are original and do not have direct analogies, but they are in the same thematic circle of images originating from the Southern Urals, the Kuban, and the Dnieper Region. The plate with a plant motif is an original Scythian product, which based on a widespread antique image of a palmette. A conclusion is made about the purposeful selection of plates that corresponded to certain mythological ideas.
Polidovych Yu.B.
Mysterious ritual objects of the Scythians: searching the answers
The paper ... more Polidovych Yu.B.
Mysterious ritual objects of the Scythians: searching the answers
The paper is devoted to the analysis of versions of the probable use of gold cone-shaped objects that were in use from the last decades of the 6th centuries BC to the end of the 4th centuries BC. They are differ in size (base diameter varies from 5 to 19.8 cm, height — from 4 to 18 cm) and some shape features. At the same time, they are characterized by hollowness, a wide round base, which is usually 1.2—2.0 times greater than the height, and the obligatory presence (with two excep tions) of a small round hole in the «upper» part. All of them are made of gold or covered with this precious metal. Currently 26 such objects are known, and they originate from 19 assemblages from the Northern Pon tic and Azov Sea regions (12), the Middle Don (1), the North Caucasus (2) and the Southern Urals (4).
The context of finding objects is considered in detail. It is concluded that they were mostly worn attached to the gorytos. This is also confirmed by the images on the stone sculpture. It is believed that the cones could have been a decoration of the gorytos or a sign of prestige. But, probably, the purpose of these items was different. Some of the cones were found in ritual complexes — hiding places within the burial chamber or next to the burial.
Researchers have put the different versions of the possible functional purpose of cone-shaped objects: ritual objects, part of a ceremonial headdress; a cap for tassels that were tied to the horse’s neck; pommel of a standard or staff; «case» for storing scalps; censer; ritual utensils. But most versions are based on arbitrary assumptions that contradict both the archaeological context of the find and the general cultural context.
From all versions, it is probable that the majority of the cones were used as ritual vessels for sacrifice by pouring out liquid. In several cases, these objects were found in caches together with ritual utensils. Other examples of ritual vessels with holes in the bottom are known. Some objects have a decoration in the form of a rosette (it surrounds the hole) which is placed only at the bottom of the bowls. It is possible that Herodotus’ information about the bowls that the Scythians wore on their belts is related to these objects. They could be used for sacrifices to «Scythian Ares», which we also know about from Herodotus’ «History».
Вміщено статті та публікації дослідників старожитностей Дніпровського Лівобережжя та Поворскля зо... more Вміщено статті та публікації дослідників старожитностей Дніпровського Лівобережжя та Поворскля зокрема. Окрему увагу приділено пам'яткам найбільш масштабної фортеці скіфського часу в Україні й Європейській частині континенту-Більського городища. Матеріали підготовлено з нагоди 85-річчя від дня народження відомої археологині, дослідниці Більського археологічного комплексу та його округи, доктора історичних наук, доцента Алли МОРУЖЕНКО. Для археологів, істориків, краєзнавців, фахівців пам'яткоохоронної справи, працівників музеїв, широкого загалу шанувальників стародавньої історії.
кандидат історичних наук, старший науковий співробітник Музею археології ХНУ імені В. Н. Каразіна... more кандидат історичних наук, старший науковий співробітник Музею археології ХНУ імені В. Н. Каразіна, провідний науковий співробітник Комунальної установи «Історико-культурний заповідник «Більськ» Полтавської обласної ради; Корост І. І., директор Комунальної установи «Історико-культурний заповідник «Більськ» Полтавської обласної ради (відповідальний редактор); Коротя О. В., заступник директора з науково-екскурсійної діяльності Комунальної установи «Історико-культурний заповідник «Більськ» Полтавської обласної ради; Литвиненко Р. О., доктор історичних наук, професор, в. о. завідувача кафедри всесвітньої історії та археології Донецького національного університету імені Василя Стуса; Махортих С. В., доктор історичних наук, провідний науковий співробітник відділу археології раннього залізного віку ІА НАН України; Приймак В. В., провідний науковий співробітник Комунальної установи «Історико-культурний заповідник «Більськ» Полтавської обласної ради; Скорий С. А., доктор історичних наук, професор, завідувач відділу археології раннього залізного віку ІА НАН України; Супруненко О. Б, кандидат історичних наук, заслужений працівник культури України, директор Полтавського краєзнавчого музею ім. В. Кричевського (науковий редактор); Титова О. М., кандидат історичних наук, заслужений працівник культури України, директор ЦП НАН України і УТОПІК; Шрамко І. Б., кандидат історичних наук, доцент кафедри історіографії, джерелознавства та археології Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна, директор Музею археології Харківського національного університету імені В. Н. Каразіна, провідний науковий співробітник Комунальної установи «Історико-культурний заповідник «Більськ» Полтавської обласної ради (голова редакційної колегії). РЕЦЕНЗЕНТИ: Гречко Д. С., доктор історичних наук, провідний науковий співробітник; Ольговський С. Я., кандидат історичних наук, професор. При передруку та іншому використанні матеріалів збірника посилання на джерело обов'язкове
Полідович, 2022
Стаття присвячена декоративній тарелі із зображеннями сцен амазономахії, виконаними дуже художньо... more Стаття присвячена декоративній тарелі із зображеннями сцен амазономахії, виконаними дуже художньо і виразно. Таріль була виготовлена за оригінальним виробом 1836 року франзузького ювеліа Антуана Веште.
Полідович, 2022
В статті аналізуються зображення на горитах чортомлицької серії (Чортомлик, Мелітополь, Іллінці, ... more В статті аналізуються зображення на горитах чортомлицької серії (Чортомлик, Мелітополь, Іллінці, курган 8 групи П'ять Братів), пов'язані із життям Ахілла
Інститут археологІї нан україни управлІння культури сумської обласної державної адмІнІстрацІї ком... more Інститут археологІї нан україни управлІння культури сумської обласної державної адмІнІстрацІї комунальний заклад сумської обласної ради «державний Історико-культурний заповІдник у м. путивлІ» До 70-річчя від дня народження Володимира Павловича БІЛОЗОРА удк 902(4/5)"638"(063) м341
Степные миры в зеркале археологии. Сборник статей, посвященный 70-летию ученого-археолога М. К. Хабдулиной. Нур-Султан., 2022
Polidovych Yu.
«GOLD» LASHES OF THE SCYTHIAN RULERS
Annotation. The article analyzes the finds of... more Polidovych Yu.
«GOLD» LASHES OF THE SCYTHIAN RULERS
Annotation. The article analyzes the finds of lashes in the Scythian-Saka complexes. These were products with a predominantly wooden handle and a leather whip strap with one or two tails. In some cases, the handles were supplemented with various bone or metal elements. The burial complexes of the nobility stand out, where lashes were found, the handles of which were decorated with gold ribbons or other gold details.
This tradition appears in the early Scythian time and spreads widely in the 4th century BC, when the social differentiation of society becomes very significant. At the same time, decorating the lash with gold was much more often used in the western regions of the Scythian-Saka world. Particular attention is paid to the golden decoration of the lash from the Tovsta Mogyla kurgan in the Steppe Black Sea region. The context of
finding does not allow us to say that the "golden" lashes were endowed with any ritual functions. First of all, they can be designated as attributes of prestige and power, which stood out especially thanks to the gold decor.
WINGED BOAR: IMAGE AT THE CROSSROAD OF THE SCYTHIAN,
IRANIAN AND ANCIENT GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Yu. Poli... more WINGED BOAR: IMAGE AT THE CROSSROAD OF THE SCYTHIAN,
IRANIAN AND ANCIENT GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Yu. Polidovych, E. Velychko
he gold plates adorning women’s headdresses were found in the Scythian
elite mounds of the 4th century BC Tovsta Mohyla and Chortomlyk. The
plates recreate the same plots: the scene of two griffins attacking a deer and the confrontation between a fantastic winged boar and a predator resembling a lion. The image of a winged boar is rare in Scythian times. In addition to the above, a small series of images of a protome of a wild boar with wings is known. These are gold plates originating from the 2nd Seven-Brotherhood mound (Kuban region) of the second half of the 5th century BC and Kul-Oba mound (Crimea) in the middle of the 4th century BC. Researchers have suggested that these images are borrowed from Greek coins of the second half of the 6th – 5th centuries BC. Coins with the embossed image of a protome of a wild boar with wings were found in several regions of ancient Greece: on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos, in the cities of the west coast of Asia Minor Cyzicus and Klazomenai, and in the state of Lydia. It is noteworthy that these are the regions that were in contact with the Persian state of the Achaemenids. The image of a winged boar is not known in Greek mythology, and the boar in myths often appears as a cruel creature of Chaos, with which the heroes come into battle. Instead, in the ancient Iranian tradition, the boar is one of the incarnations of the god of war and victory Verethragna.
He, in particular, is mentioned in Yashts. The description of the boar does
not mention the wings, but speaks of its free movement in space. The notion of such a movement could have influenced the appearance of images of a winged boar. Thus, the image of a winged boar on the coins of Greek cities appeared under a certain influence of the Iranian tradition. The Scythians also represented the god of war and victory (known only by the Greek name – Ares) as a boar. This is evidenced by the images on the scabbards of swords and gorytos. And so the image of a winged boar, most likely, was a reproduction of this god. The scene of the confrontation between a wild boar and a predator on plates from the Tovsta Mohyla mound and Chortomlyk mound is located next to the scene of the griffins attacking the deer. Such scenes reproduced the idea of sacrifice for the sake of future revival. The scene of the confrontation may also be related to the idea of overcoming death and the triumph of life.
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Papers by Iurii Polidovych
Yu. B. Polidovich
The article is devoted to fantastic images from the earliest Scythian burial mounds excavated by N. Veselovsky near the village of Kelermesskaja in the Kuban region in 1904.
(in Ukrainian)
SCYTHIAN PLATE BRACELETS OF THE 4th century BC
Scythian wide plate bracelets made of gold and silver are analyzed in the paper. Such items were distributed mainly in the steppes of the Dnieper region in the first — third quarters of the 4th century BC. 37 bracelets are known from 15 jewelry sets
and 1 unknown assemblage. All items have bent long edges and central relief ribs — one (31 items) or two (6 items). Plate bracelets were worn by men and women, they were passed on to children as an inheritance. The men-rulers (from Solokha and Kul-Oba barrows) were buried with 5—10 such bracelets.
In the side tomb of the Solokha barrow, the earliest bracelets (first quarter of the 4th century BC) belonging to the Scythian ruler were found. It is assumed that later these items became a sign of belonging to the circle of his descendants or other persons of the elite of Scythian society. Our knowledge is limited by the fact that the largest Scythian mounds of the 4th century BC were looted (the Chmyreva Mohyla, Chortomlyk, Oguz, Kozel, Tovsta Mohyla and others barrows). And we don’t know for sure whether the Scythian rulers wore such bracelets. However, most of the bracelets
were found in elite barrows. This is the burial of the woman and two warriors from the Chortomlyk barrow, the woman and the child from the Tovsta Mohyla barrow, the man and the woman from the Kul-Oba barrow, the man from barrow 8 of the Five Brothers group. The jewelry sets that belonged to these persons are distinguished by their extraordinary splendor. This is «golden» clothing, exquisite neck and chest adornments, earrings, rings. Women’s jewelry sets from the Deev and 1st Mordvinovski barrows show the special status of their owners. Perhaps they were priestesses of the Scythian fertility goddess Api. Findings of plate bracelets in the burials of children (from the Tovsta Moghyla and the Auly barrows) and a teenager (from the barrow 10 near the Mala Lepetykha village) probably indicate the passing of these products as an inheritance.
BARROWS OF SCYTHIAN AGE NEAR VELYKI BUDKY VILLAGE IN SULA
RIVER BASIN: ARCHIVAL DATA AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
The paper is focused on the barrows of the Scythian Age, excavated near Velyki Budky village in Sula River basin (Romny district, Sumy region). In the last decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries they were excavated by Serhii Mazaraki, Nikolai Brandenburg, Dmitrii Samokvasov, Ivan Lynnychenko and, possibly, Vikentii Khvoika. According to the survey of kurgans in 1927, Mykhailo Semenchyk wrote that all the kurgans
near the Velyki Budky village were excavated. These are several dozen kurgans located on the right bank of the Sula River and grouped into 4 groups. Three groups are localized to the east of the village: group I «Kapitalovshchyna» — on the plateau; group II «Provallia» was concentrated on a small cape at the confluence of the Khmelivka River with the Sula River; group III extended along the right bank of the Sula River. Most of the kurgans of these groups are located inside a large area surrounded by a rampart and a moat. The origin and dating of the defensive structures is unknown. Group IV «Popova Kaliuzha» was located west of the Velyki Budky village. The information about 11 excavated kurgans is available. It is preserved in the first publications and the inventory book of the Kyiv Art, Industrial and Scientific Museum (now the National Museum of the History of Ukraine). We can also ascertain the data on 6 barrows based on entries in the inventory book. The kurgan No. 1, excavated in 1897 by Sergii Mazaraki, sticks out among others due to the completeness of the data and the wealth of the items. However, much information about excavations and items is inaccurate and confusing. It is possible that further research will make a history of studies of kurgans near the Velyki Budky village more understandable, and the information about items is more reliable.
THE LION HEAD-SHAPED BRONZE PLATES FROM SCYTHIAN
ASSEMBLAGES OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF DNIPRO RIGHT BANK
Two sets of bronze plates originating from two assemblages of the Dnipro Right Bank forest-steppe are studied in the paper. The set from the barrow No. 4 (fig. 1) near Beresniahy village includes the image of a lion head full-face (10 units) and in profile (2 units).
The full-face view of the head is unique and has no analogues. Paired profile plates have a complete analogue in a pair of plates, originating from the barrow near the Stebliv village (Serhii Crichton collection). Presumably,
both sets were made by the same master from the same molds. The researchers date the barrow No. 4 near Beresniahy village within the second quarter — the mid5th century BC. The plates with the image of the lion head from this assemblage are the earliest images of this predator, made in traditions close to the Scythian «animal style». The image of the head of a cat family predator on bronze plates from barrows No. 400 and
401 near Zhuravka village on the Dnipro Right Bank is earlier and may have been the source of the artistic motif. Image of the predator head from barrow No. 491 near Makiivka village is also earlier. It is made in the
traditions of the Scythian «animal style». The images on a gold plate from barrow No. 3 near Orlyk village on the Dnipro Left Bank and on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the necropolis of Greek city of Nymphaeon, Eastern Crimea are similar to the lion heads from Beresniahy and Stebliv. The most eastern is a bronze plate from the Voskresensk hillfort in the Southern Ural. Another version of the motif is presented on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the Aksyonovsky-I cemetery in Lower Volga Region and from the Ananino cemetery in the Volga-Kama region.
OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE
The article is dedicated to two bronze plates of the Scythian period from the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. They came to the museum from the collection of Serhii Kreiton in the spring of 1920. Serhii Kreiton was a military man, one of the founders of the Kyiv Military Historical Museum, which existed in 1911–1919. His archaeological collection is probably associated with this museum, which included items from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The plaques represent figured images of isolated rear parts of animals. One of them (inventory number B 2279; fig. 1, 1) is a part of an ungulate, the second (inventory number B 2587; fig. 2, 1) is a part of a predatory creature. They have certain analogies that allow dating them to the second half of the 5th century BCE. Both plaques were part of the decoration of a horse’s bridle. They were part of a set of items that represented a detachable image of a fantastic animal.
The article examines the gold plates that decorated the gorytos found by S. A. Mazaraki in 1897 in the Scythian mound No. 1 near the village of Vovkivtsi (Romny Region). On the basis of the analysis, it is concluded that the plate with the image of a lion could have been cut from the upholstery of the Chortomlyk type gorytos or made according to the same matrix. Plates depicting the scene of a predator attacking a goat are original and do not have direct analogies, but they are in the same thematic circle of images originating from the Southern Urals, the Kuban, and the Dnieper Region. The plate with a plant motif is an original Scythian product, which based on a widespread antique image of a palmette. A conclusion is made about the purposeful selection of plates that corresponded to certain mythological ideas.
Mysterious ritual objects of the Scythians: searching the answers
The paper is devoted to the analysis of versions of the probable use of gold cone-shaped objects that were in use from the last decades of the 6th centuries BC to the end of the 4th centuries BC. They are differ in size (base diameter varies from 5 to 19.8 cm, height — from 4 to 18 cm) and some shape features. At the same time, they are characterized by hollowness, a wide round base, which is usually 1.2—2.0 times greater than the height, and the obligatory presence (with two excep tions) of a small round hole in the «upper» part. All of them are made of gold or covered with this precious metal. Currently 26 such objects are known, and they originate from 19 assemblages from the Northern Pon tic and Azov Sea regions (12), the Middle Don (1), the North Caucasus (2) and the Southern Urals (4).
The context of finding objects is considered in detail. It is concluded that they were mostly worn attached to the gorytos. This is also confirmed by the images on the stone sculpture. It is believed that the cones could have been a decoration of the gorytos or a sign of prestige. But, probably, the purpose of these items was different. Some of the cones were found in ritual complexes — hiding places within the burial chamber or next to the burial.
Researchers have put the different versions of the possible functional purpose of cone-shaped objects: ritual objects, part of a ceremonial headdress; a cap for tassels that were tied to the horse’s neck; pommel of a standard or staff; «case» for storing scalps; censer; ritual utensils. But most versions are based on arbitrary assumptions that contradict both the archaeological context of the find and the general cultural context.
From all versions, it is probable that the majority of the cones were used as ritual vessels for sacrifice by pouring out liquid. In several cases, these objects were found in caches together with ritual utensils. Other examples of ritual vessels with holes in the bottom are known. Some objects have a decoration in the form of a rosette (it surrounds the hole) which is placed only at the bottom of the bowls. It is possible that Herodotus’ information about the bowls that the Scythians wore on their belts is related to these objects. They could be used for sacrifices to «Scythian Ares», which we also know about from Herodotus’ «History».
«GOLD» LASHES OF THE SCYTHIAN RULERS
Annotation. The article analyzes the finds of lashes in the Scythian-Saka complexes. These were products with a predominantly wooden handle and a leather whip strap with one or two tails. In some cases, the handles were supplemented with various bone or metal elements. The burial complexes of the nobility stand out, where lashes were found, the handles of which were decorated with gold ribbons or other gold details.
This tradition appears in the early Scythian time and spreads widely in the 4th century BC, when the social differentiation of society becomes very significant. At the same time, decorating the lash with gold was much more often used in the western regions of the Scythian-Saka world. Particular attention is paid to the golden decoration of the lash from the Tovsta Mogyla kurgan in the Steppe Black Sea region. The context of
finding does not allow us to say that the "golden" lashes were endowed with any ritual functions. First of all, they can be designated as attributes of prestige and power, which stood out especially thanks to the gold decor.
IRANIAN AND ANCIENT GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Yu. Polidovych, E. Velychko
he gold plates adorning women’s headdresses were found in the Scythian
elite mounds of the 4th century BC Tovsta Mohyla and Chortomlyk. The
plates recreate the same plots: the scene of two griffins attacking a deer and the confrontation between a fantastic winged boar and a predator resembling a lion. The image of a winged boar is rare in Scythian times. In addition to the above, a small series of images of a protome of a wild boar with wings is known. These are gold plates originating from the 2nd Seven-Brotherhood mound (Kuban region) of the second half of the 5th century BC and Kul-Oba mound (Crimea) in the middle of the 4th century BC. Researchers have suggested that these images are borrowed from Greek coins of the second half of the 6th – 5th centuries BC. Coins with the embossed image of a protome of a wild boar with wings were found in several regions of ancient Greece: on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos, in the cities of the west coast of Asia Minor Cyzicus and Klazomenai, and in the state of Lydia. It is noteworthy that these are the regions that were in contact with the Persian state of the Achaemenids. The image of a winged boar is not known in Greek mythology, and the boar in myths often appears as a cruel creature of Chaos, with which the heroes come into battle. Instead, in the ancient Iranian tradition, the boar is one of the incarnations of the god of war and victory Verethragna.
He, in particular, is mentioned in Yashts. The description of the boar does
not mention the wings, but speaks of its free movement in space. The notion of such a movement could have influenced the appearance of images of a winged boar. Thus, the image of a winged boar on the coins of Greek cities appeared under a certain influence of the Iranian tradition. The Scythians also represented the god of war and victory (known only by the Greek name – Ares) as a boar. This is evidenced by the images on the scabbards of swords and gorytos. And so the image of a winged boar, most likely, was a reproduction of this god. The scene of the confrontation between a wild boar and a predator on plates from the Tovsta Mohyla mound and Chortomlyk mound is located next to the scene of the griffins attacking the deer. Such scenes reproduced the idea of sacrifice for the sake of future revival. The scene of the confrontation may also be related to the idea of overcoming death and the triumph of life.
Yu. B. Polidovich
The article is devoted to fantastic images from the earliest Scythian burial mounds excavated by N. Veselovsky near the village of Kelermesskaja in the Kuban region in 1904.
(in Ukrainian)
SCYTHIAN PLATE BRACELETS OF THE 4th century BC
Scythian wide plate bracelets made of gold and silver are analyzed in the paper. Such items were distributed mainly in the steppes of the Dnieper region in the first — third quarters of the 4th century BC. 37 bracelets are known from 15 jewelry sets
and 1 unknown assemblage. All items have bent long edges and central relief ribs — one (31 items) or two (6 items). Plate bracelets were worn by men and women, they were passed on to children as an inheritance. The men-rulers (from Solokha and Kul-Oba barrows) were buried with 5—10 such bracelets.
In the side tomb of the Solokha barrow, the earliest bracelets (first quarter of the 4th century BC) belonging to the Scythian ruler were found. It is assumed that later these items became a sign of belonging to the circle of his descendants or other persons of the elite of Scythian society. Our knowledge is limited by the fact that the largest Scythian mounds of the 4th century BC were looted (the Chmyreva Mohyla, Chortomlyk, Oguz, Kozel, Tovsta Mohyla and others barrows). And we don’t know for sure whether the Scythian rulers wore such bracelets. However, most of the bracelets
were found in elite barrows. This is the burial of the woman and two warriors from the Chortomlyk barrow, the woman and the child from the Tovsta Mohyla barrow, the man and the woman from the Kul-Oba barrow, the man from barrow 8 of the Five Brothers group. The jewelry sets that belonged to these persons are distinguished by their extraordinary splendor. This is «golden» clothing, exquisite neck and chest adornments, earrings, rings. Women’s jewelry sets from the Deev and 1st Mordvinovski barrows show the special status of their owners. Perhaps they were priestesses of the Scythian fertility goddess Api. Findings of plate bracelets in the burials of children (from the Tovsta Moghyla and the Auly barrows) and a teenager (from the barrow 10 near the Mala Lepetykha village) probably indicate the passing of these products as an inheritance.
BARROWS OF SCYTHIAN AGE NEAR VELYKI BUDKY VILLAGE IN SULA
RIVER BASIN: ARCHIVAL DATA AND MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
The paper is focused on the barrows of the Scythian Age, excavated near Velyki Budky village in Sula River basin (Romny district, Sumy region). In the last decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries they were excavated by Serhii Mazaraki, Nikolai Brandenburg, Dmitrii Samokvasov, Ivan Lynnychenko and, possibly, Vikentii Khvoika. According to the survey of kurgans in 1927, Mykhailo Semenchyk wrote that all the kurgans
near the Velyki Budky village were excavated. These are several dozen kurgans located on the right bank of the Sula River and grouped into 4 groups. Three groups are localized to the east of the village: group I «Kapitalovshchyna» — on the plateau; group II «Provallia» was concentrated on a small cape at the confluence of the Khmelivka River with the Sula River; group III extended along the right bank of the Sula River. Most of the kurgans of these groups are located inside a large area surrounded by a rampart and a moat. The origin and dating of the defensive structures is unknown. Group IV «Popova Kaliuzha» was located west of the Velyki Budky village. The information about 11 excavated kurgans is available. It is preserved in the first publications and the inventory book of the Kyiv Art, Industrial and Scientific Museum (now the National Museum of the History of Ukraine). We can also ascertain the data on 6 barrows based on entries in the inventory book. The kurgan No. 1, excavated in 1897 by Sergii Mazaraki, sticks out among others due to the completeness of the data and the wealth of the items. However, much information about excavations and items is inaccurate and confusing. It is possible that further research will make a history of studies of kurgans near the Velyki Budky village more understandable, and the information about items is more reliable.
THE LION HEAD-SHAPED BRONZE PLATES FROM SCYTHIAN
ASSEMBLAGES OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF DNIPRO RIGHT BANK
Two sets of bronze plates originating from two assemblages of the Dnipro Right Bank forest-steppe are studied in the paper. The set from the barrow No. 4 (fig. 1) near Beresniahy village includes the image of a lion head full-face (10 units) and in profile (2 units).
The full-face view of the head is unique and has no analogues. Paired profile plates have a complete analogue in a pair of plates, originating from the barrow near the Stebliv village (Serhii Crichton collection). Presumably,
both sets were made by the same master from the same molds. The researchers date the barrow No. 4 near Beresniahy village within the second quarter — the mid5th century BC. The plates with the image of the lion head from this assemblage are the earliest images of this predator, made in traditions close to the Scythian «animal style». The image of the head of a cat family predator on bronze plates from barrows No. 400 and
401 near Zhuravka village on the Dnipro Right Bank is earlier and may have been the source of the artistic motif. Image of the predator head from barrow No. 491 near Makiivka village is also earlier. It is made in the
traditions of the Scythian «animal style». The images on a gold plate from barrow No. 3 near Orlyk village on the Dnipro Left Bank and on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the necropolis of Greek city of Nymphaeon, Eastern Crimea are similar to the lion heads from Beresniahy and Stebliv. The most eastern is a bronze plate from the Voskresensk hillfort in the Southern Ural. Another version of the motif is presented on bronze plates from barrow No. 32 of the Aksyonovsky-I cemetery in Lower Volga Region and from the Ananino cemetery in the Volga-Kama region.
OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE
The article is dedicated to two bronze plates of the Scythian period from the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. They came to the museum from the collection of Serhii Kreiton in the spring of 1920. Serhii Kreiton was a military man, one of the founders of the Kyiv Military Historical Museum, which existed in 1911–1919. His archaeological collection is probably associated with this museum, which included items from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The plaques represent figured images of isolated rear parts of animals. One of them (inventory number B 2279; fig. 1, 1) is a part of an ungulate, the second (inventory number B 2587; fig. 2, 1) is a part of a predatory creature. They have certain analogies that allow dating them to the second half of the 5th century BCE. Both plaques were part of the decoration of a horse’s bridle. They were part of a set of items that represented a detachable image of a fantastic animal.
The article examines the gold plates that decorated the gorytos found by S. A. Mazaraki in 1897 in the Scythian mound No. 1 near the village of Vovkivtsi (Romny Region). On the basis of the analysis, it is concluded that the plate with the image of a lion could have been cut from the upholstery of the Chortomlyk type gorytos or made according to the same matrix. Plates depicting the scene of a predator attacking a goat are original and do not have direct analogies, but they are in the same thematic circle of images originating from the Southern Urals, the Kuban, and the Dnieper Region. The plate with a plant motif is an original Scythian product, which based on a widespread antique image of a palmette. A conclusion is made about the purposeful selection of plates that corresponded to certain mythological ideas.
Mysterious ritual objects of the Scythians: searching the answers
The paper is devoted to the analysis of versions of the probable use of gold cone-shaped objects that were in use from the last decades of the 6th centuries BC to the end of the 4th centuries BC. They are differ in size (base diameter varies from 5 to 19.8 cm, height — from 4 to 18 cm) and some shape features. At the same time, they are characterized by hollowness, a wide round base, which is usually 1.2—2.0 times greater than the height, and the obligatory presence (with two excep tions) of a small round hole in the «upper» part. All of them are made of gold or covered with this precious metal. Currently 26 such objects are known, and they originate from 19 assemblages from the Northern Pon tic and Azov Sea regions (12), the Middle Don (1), the North Caucasus (2) and the Southern Urals (4).
The context of finding objects is considered in detail. It is concluded that they were mostly worn attached to the gorytos. This is also confirmed by the images on the stone sculpture. It is believed that the cones could have been a decoration of the gorytos or a sign of prestige. But, probably, the purpose of these items was different. Some of the cones were found in ritual complexes — hiding places within the burial chamber or next to the burial.
Researchers have put the different versions of the possible functional purpose of cone-shaped objects: ritual objects, part of a ceremonial headdress; a cap for tassels that were tied to the horse’s neck; pommel of a standard or staff; «case» for storing scalps; censer; ritual utensils. But most versions are based on arbitrary assumptions that contradict both the archaeological context of the find and the general cultural context.
From all versions, it is probable that the majority of the cones were used as ritual vessels for sacrifice by pouring out liquid. In several cases, these objects were found in caches together with ritual utensils. Other examples of ritual vessels with holes in the bottom are known. Some objects have a decoration in the form of a rosette (it surrounds the hole) which is placed only at the bottom of the bowls. It is possible that Herodotus’ information about the bowls that the Scythians wore on their belts is related to these objects. They could be used for sacrifices to «Scythian Ares», which we also know about from Herodotus’ «History».
«GOLD» LASHES OF THE SCYTHIAN RULERS
Annotation. The article analyzes the finds of lashes in the Scythian-Saka complexes. These were products with a predominantly wooden handle and a leather whip strap with one or two tails. In some cases, the handles were supplemented with various bone or metal elements. The burial complexes of the nobility stand out, where lashes were found, the handles of which were decorated with gold ribbons or other gold details.
This tradition appears in the early Scythian time and spreads widely in the 4th century BC, when the social differentiation of society becomes very significant. At the same time, decorating the lash with gold was much more often used in the western regions of the Scythian-Saka world. Particular attention is paid to the golden decoration of the lash from the Tovsta Mogyla kurgan in the Steppe Black Sea region. The context of
finding does not allow us to say that the "golden" lashes were endowed with any ritual functions. First of all, they can be designated as attributes of prestige and power, which stood out especially thanks to the gold decor.
IRANIAN AND ANCIENT GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Yu. Polidovych, E. Velychko
he gold plates adorning women’s headdresses were found in the Scythian
elite mounds of the 4th century BC Tovsta Mohyla and Chortomlyk. The
plates recreate the same plots: the scene of two griffins attacking a deer and the confrontation between a fantastic winged boar and a predator resembling a lion. The image of a winged boar is rare in Scythian times. In addition to the above, a small series of images of a protome of a wild boar with wings is known. These are gold plates originating from the 2nd Seven-Brotherhood mound (Kuban region) of the second half of the 5th century BC and Kul-Oba mound (Crimea) in the middle of the 4th century BC. Researchers have suggested that these images are borrowed from Greek coins of the second half of the 6th – 5th centuries BC. Coins with the embossed image of a protome of a wild boar with wings were found in several regions of ancient Greece: on the islands of Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos, in the cities of the west coast of Asia Minor Cyzicus and Klazomenai, and in the state of Lydia. It is noteworthy that these are the regions that were in contact with the Persian state of the Achaemenids. The image of a winged boar is not known in Greek mythology, and the boar in myths often appears as a cruel creature of Chaos, with which the heroes come into battle. Instead, in the ancient Iranian tradition, the boar is one of the incarnations of the god of war and victory Verethragna.
He, in particular, is mentioned in Yashts. The description of the boar does
not mention the wings, but speaks of its free movement in space. The notion of such a movement could have influenced the appearance of images of a winged boar. Thus, the image of a winged boar on the coins of Greek cities appeared under a certain influence of the Iranian tradition. The Scythians also represented the god of war and victory (known only by the Greek name – Ares) as a boar. This is evidenced by the images on the scabbards of swords and gorytos. And so the image of a winged boar, most likely, was a reproduction of this god. The scene of the confrontation between a wild boar and a predator on plates from the Tovsta Mohyla mound and Chortomlyk mound is located next to the scene of the griffins attacking the deer. Such scenes reproduced the idea of sacrifice for the sake of future revival. The scene of the confrontation may also be related to the idea of overcoming death and the triumph of life.