Scythians
Daimonic
thread.
Below is an annoucement at
For exhibitions of their workings with gold
(it's amazing stuff)
They seem to have been more of a
pagan/nature/warrior cult, most likely whoop-assed
by Huns or Mongols. They interacted with the Ancient
Greeks (700-400 BCE)
I found nothing of interest on this subject or this
conversation from them, but the art is pretty
neat if someone was interested.
Jason Yuschenko
October 13, 2000-January 21, 2001
Gold of the Nomads: Scythian Treasures from the Ancient Ukraine is the first
major exhibition of Scythian art in the United States in more than a quarter
century. Owned by the fierce nomadic horsemen who roamed the European
steppes from the seventh to the third centuries B.C., these extraordinary
objects will be on view at the Brooklyn Museum of Art from October 27, 2000
through January 21, 2001. The exhibition includes more than 170 exquisitely
crafted pieces, many of them excavated in the last decade. Among them are
articles of personal adornment, ceremony, and battle created by Scythian
artists and by superb Greek goldsmiths.
All of the objects in the exhibition are on loan from the Museum of
Historical Treasures of Ukraine, The Institute of Archaeology of the Academy
of Sciences of Ukraine, and the State Historical Archaeological Preserve of
Ukraine..
The exhibition has been organized by the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore,
where it appeared in the spring and the San Antonio Museum of Art. It is
supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and
Humanities. Gold of the Nomads is curated by Dr. Ellen Reeder, Deputy
Director for Art at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, in collaboration with Dr.
Gerry Scott III, Curator of Ancient Art at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Many of the recently excavated objects in the exhibition constitute a new
chapter, even a new book on the dialogue between the ancient Aegean world,
the ancient Near East, and the steppes that extend from north of the Black
Sea as far as the Altai Republic near Mongolia. "This exhibition and the
accompanying catalogue provide an opportunity to explore a new frontier in
the discipline of archaeology and a window into a mysterious, vanished
culture," states Dr. Reeder.
Although other nomadic tribes that had a turn in dominating this vast
region, like the Huns and the Mongols, survive through a history of tales of
their brutal conquests, the Scythians have also left in their lavishly
provisioned tombs, one of the most complete and extraordinary material
records of any nomadic people.
Most of these spectacular objects are portable in keeping with the nomadic
lifestyle of the Scythians. Many are in the animal style associated with the
central Asian steppes, while some reflect the strong influence of ancient
Near Eastern culture. Other objects reveal a fusion of pure Scythian style
with the Near East and the Greek world.
The first exhibition to come to the United States since Ukraine achieved
independence in 1991, Gold of the Nomads is also the largest and most
complete exhibition ever assembled from Scythian art organized by Ukraine.
It features a broad range of objects, many of which have never been seen
outside Ukraine. These virtually unknown masterpieces include a gold helmet,
excavated in 1988, bearing scenes in relief of Scythian combat, the style of
which is clearly influenced by Attic Greek red-figure vase painting of the
fifth century B.C.; a nearly foot-high object, unearthed in 1990, covered
with intricately intertwined animal combat scenes that is thought to have
served as a finial; and a series of gold cut- out plaques from a bow and
arrow case that depict winged dragons crafted in a blend of the animal and
Near Eastern styles and a leafy- footed, scaled man that was excavated in
1991.
More than 2,500 years ago the Scythian culture flourished for a few brief
centuries. The Scythians originated in the central Asian steppes sometime in
the early first millennium B.C. After migrating to what is now Ukraine, in
about the seventh century B.C., they dominated the vast expanse of the
steppes that stretched from the Danube, east across what is modern Ukraine
and east of the Black Sea into Russia. For nearly three centuries they swept
across the steppes with a military skill and ferocity that made them nearly
invincible.
The Scythians and their elaborately ornamented gold objects also reveal a
tale of interaction with the Greek world, which purchased grain, fur, and
amber from the ferocious warriors. Profits from this trade brought the
Scythians the wealth to indulge their taste for elaborate objects ranging
from exquisite jewelry for themselves to elaborate ornamentation for their
horses.
This prosperity may well have been what caused the Scythians to abandon
their nomadic existence and to allow another hardier, nomadic tribe known as
the Samatians to take control of the vast territory that the Scythians had
dominated. The exhibition will also include several superb Sarmatian gold
objects.
Modern knowledge of the Scythians is based on archaeological excavations of
their elaborately equipped burial mounds known as kurhans. Ongoing
explorations continue to recover an astonishing wealth of gold and silver
objects, including horse trappings, armor, weaponry, jewelry, and ceremonial
adornment with which powerful members of these ancient peoples were
entombed, along with retinues of attendants. Scythian gold objects were
first discovered in the 18th century. The Russian Empress Catherine the
Great then ordered their systematic study, launching what became the field
of Scythian archaeology. The past two decades have yielded some of the most
exceptional finds, as archaeologists continue to explore some of the more
than 40,000 yet unexcavated kurhans in Ukraine.
Tickets, which will also include general admission, will be required for
Gold of the Nomads. Ticket prices are $8 Adults, $6 older adults and
students 18 and over with valid I.D., $4 ages 13-17; free to children ages
12 and under accompanied by an adult.
Daimonic
"Daimonic" <j...@kobzari-tchortovoi.org> wrote in message
news:t4ogfa6...@corp.supernews.com...
Lisa Gardner
> Someone mentioned the Scythians in this
>thread.
what thread? what was the name of it before you changed it?
In what contest were they mentioned?
thanks
Lisa
Daimonic
LOL whoops, actually now
a previous thread/or several about
Eastern LHP traditions. Someone asked if scythians
were among the people being talked about. They weren't.
I am emailed a lot of stuff pertaining to this region, saw
this one and figured I'd post in case someone had an interest in Scythians.
Jason Yuschenko
Lisa Gardner
thank you. Why the interest in scythians on your part and the part of
others here? Just curious. My interest stems from a dream I had,
that's all.
Lisa
Daimonic
"Lisa Gardner" <lgar...@mbay.net> wrote in message
news:t4pc688...@corp.supernews.com...
I don't have a serious interest in scythians, not sure if
anyone here does except that were brought up in
the context of:
do you mean scythians (had an LHP tradition?)
Unlikely that they did, but I was emailed a notice
of a scythian art exhibit which was pretty interesting.
You dream of scythians?
Jason Yuschenko