On The Semantics Of Animal Style Ornithomorphic Images In Pazyryk Ritual Artifacts
D.V. Cheremisin
D.V. Cheremisin
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
The paper focuses on animal style images and compositions in Pazyryk art. An attempt is made to reconstruct the semantics of certain images, proceeding from the assumption that art is a special language used to express perceptions of the Universe. The mythical griffin is the most popular figure in Pazyryk art, suggesting that the Pazyryk people may be identified with the "griffins guarding gold," mentioned by Aristeas and Herodotus. The griffin image is interpreted in the context of Pazyryk ritual grave goods and specifically in griffon - horse predatory scenes represented in the attire of the sacrificial horses that accompanied the deceased to their tombs. The same mythical predation scene, believed to bring good luck, is mentioned in the descriptions of Scythia given by Classical historians and geographers. The realistic image of a bird (probably the demoiselle - Anthropoides virgo - inhabiting the alpine steppes of the Altai) decorated the tops of Pazyryk ceremonial headwear. This image also appears in mythological belief. Its interpretation is suggested, relating the meaning of the bird image and the symbolism of Pazyryk headwear to Indo-European and Uralic mythology.
