State Hermitage Museum

Iran, Merv. Shapur II

Coin. Heavy Dinar

309-320

Inventory Number: ОН-В-Аз-194

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Iran. Bahram II

Coin. Dinar

280-283

Inventory Number: ОН-В-Аз-5180

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Aigrette: Griffin Tearing with Claws an Ibex

Created: 4th - 3rd century BC

Found: Siberian collection of Peter I. Russia, Siberia

This plaque in the shape of a griffin standing on the defeated ibex served as decoration of the headdress of a noble warrior. The entire composition is raised in relief from a sheet of gold. The griffin's head is hollow. Its figure seems enormous as compared with that of the ibex. The ibex is depicted with its hind quarters twisted upwards, which is typical of Altaic art. The griffin's body was richly decorated in a cloisonne technique, but the insets have not survived. This composition is similar to that of the leather object found in the Pazyryk Barrow No. 2 in Altai. The ibex's posture and the decorative devices are identical to the depictions on the saddle covers from the Pazyryk Barrow No. 1. Thus this splendid egret can be attributed to the 5th to 4th century BC. Besides, we see that the whole composition, particularly the griffin, was produced under the influence of the Achaemenid art.

Inventory Number: Си.1727-1/131

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Pair of ''Horns'' from a Horse's Headdress

Created: Russia. Pazyryk Culture. 6th century BC

Found: Bashadar Barrow No. 2 (excavations by S.I. Rudenko, 1950). Central Altai, Bashadar Boundary on the River Karakol

These large wooden horns were found in the Bashadar Barrow No. 2 along with a rotted headdress or mask for a riding horse. The horns are stuck together from several parts. The flat sides of each horn are covered with thick plaques of sheet silver and the convex parts have gold sheets stuck to them, their scalloped edges apparently imitating the year rings of a goat's horns. Such decorations are rare and were clearly made for some special ceremony, possibly of ritual significance. Several masks were found in the Pazyryk Barrows Nos 1 and 5, topped with little figures and horns. Luxurious headdresses are found in Assyrian images, but these are of a totally different type. Scythians in the Black Sea area decorated their horses with rich forehead and cheek pieces in the Animal Style.

Inventory Number: 1793-357

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