The Scythian Gold Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla

This article is about The Scythian Gold Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla, an ancient artifact that left me breathless from the first time I saw it.

For the Scythians the most sacred and valuable places were their burial grounds. They consisted in kurgans (burial mounds), each of them reflecting the social ranking of the dead.

Judging by their height, the burial mounds are classified in six categories:

  • 1 m tall for the common poor Scythians
  • 1,5 – 3 m tall for rich people
  • 3 – 5 m tall for tribal elders
  • 5 – 7,5 m tall for local rulers
  • 7,5 – 11 m tall for high Scythian aristocracy
  •  14 – 21 m tall for Schythian kings and members of the royal family.

The priests resting places are an exception. They are very well hidden, to prevent the act of profanation and the stilling of their sacred objects.

Believing in life after death, the Scythians were buried with their belongings. Along side Herodot’s writings, the archaeological findings from the kurgans are the most important facts left about the Scythian way of life.

Boris Mozolevski with The Scythian Gold Pectoral

Boris Mozolevski with The Scythian Gold Pectoral 

The gold pectoral was found in Tovsta Mohyla, a large Scythian royal kurgan, by the archaeologist and poet, Borys Mozolevsky, in 1971.

Combining several eastern and western jewelry technics (casting, filigree, enameling etc.), this 4th century BC artwork is the best Scythian pectoral ever find. Well balanced and symmetrical, this master piece has a diameter of 30,6 cm and a weight in gold of 1150 g.

Many believes that the pectoral was commissioned by the Scythian king and that was made by a Greek goldsmith.

The Scythian Gold Pectoral

This fine gold pectoral comes as a story about the Scythian people, combining images of domestic life, with others of nature and wildlife, and with those of mythical creatures, in which they believe.

Three tiers forms the crescent-shaped pectoral. They are contoured by four hallow tubes of twisted gold, who are graduating decreasing through the end.

 Left side of the pectoral    Right side of the pectoral

                              Both sides  of the pectoral showing a great symmetry

The ends of the pectoral are made from bands of gold, decorated with palmette motifs. The clasp is no less impressive, being constructed from two gold lion heads with rings in their mouths.

Left end details of the pectoral

Left end details of the pectoral

The Scythians were fierce nomadic people, but also good traders and lovers of art. Their best friend, the horse, is pictured from the beginning, as a new born, and also in death (devoured by the griffins).

The inner band, which shows peaceful productive events, contrast with the exterior tier which picture death scenes. It’s nothing unusual, because the Scythian way of life was the combination of these two.

Two Scythians making a sheepskin coat

Two Scythians making a sheepskin coat

Despite their bloody reputation (exterminators, human sacrifices, the making of drinking cups from enemies skulls etc.), the Scythians know to value a good peace and they were in trading relations with their neighbors. Some domestic life activities are shown on the inner band of the gold pectoral. In the center we have two long-haired bearded men who are stitching a fleece between them, probably making a sheepskin coat. They are wearing Scythian trousers and their basic weapon, the bow, is also present, inside adorned quivers.

The two Scythians are flanked by pairs of horses and cows with their youngs.

The different hair style of the Scythians suggest that they might be members of different clans.

                                                                                                         Scythian with headband    Braided hair Scythian

Cow nursing calf

On the left side we have a cow nursing her calf and a new born foal with his mother.

Horse nursing foal

On the right side we have a horse nursing her foal and a new born calf with his mother.

Respecting the symmetry, they are followed by two young kneeling Scythians with their sheeps, one on each side.

Young skiff with amphora

On the left side a young Scythian with an amphora is pictured, near his sheep.

Young skiff milking his sheep

On the right side we have a young Scythian milking his sheep.

Domestic birds - left side

Next, on each side, the daily life episode is finished with goats and their youngs, and domestic birds.

Right side

The middle register comes as an ode to the beauty of nature.

Center details

Center details

Plants, worked in round or in high relief, birds and blossoms (once enameled) are creating an amazing scene on a plate of gold.

Left side details

Left side details

Right side details

Right side details

The third tier of the gold pectoral shows their fascination for the wild life, their beliefs, and also their predator mentality.

Center pair of griffins

In the center two griffins are devouring a horse. They are flanked by other two pairs of griffins that are attacking horses.

Left pair of griffins

Left pair of griffins

Right pair of griffins

Right pair of griffins

Next, on the left side, a lion and a leopard are bringing down a stag.

Left leopard and lion

On the other side a leopard and a lion  are attacking a boar.

Right leopard and lion

In the same symmetry hounds are hunting hares on each side. And finally, in the corners, two pairs of insects facing each other.

Right side details big

Right side details 

This amazing ancient masterpiece can be seen at The Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, in Kiev.

Giveaway – FINISHED.

GIVEAWAY!!!

 

1. About

I’ve made some natural stone pendants wire wrapped in sterling silver and I want to give away one of them. The winner may choose the one that he/she likes from the available ones, that are exposed in this post.

You can find this giveaway on g+, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. Share, pin or tweet the giveaway post for a chance to win a pendant of your choice. The respective pendants are also in my shop, but in case I sell one I shall replace it with one of its kind.

The giveaway will last at least two weeks, time in which I shall update the post with a new pendant each day. So you better not miss any of them 🙂 Keep in touch 🙂

2. Available pendants

Chrysocolla pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, chrysocolla;

Length: 4,7 cm;

Weight: 23,6 g;

Chakras: Heart, Throat;

Astrological sign: Taurus, Gemini

 

Lepidolite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver & silver necklace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, lepidolite;

Length: 3,5 cm;

Weight: 13,4 g;

Chakras: Crown, Heart;

Astrological sign: Virgo, Libra

 

Orange calcite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, orange calcite;

Length: 4,8 cm;

Weight: 16,8 g;

Chakras: Sacral;

Astrological sign: Cancer

 

Raw fluorite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, fluorite

Length: 3,3 cm;

Weight: 11,6 g;

Chakras: Causal, Crown, Frontal, Heart, Third Eye;

Astrological sign: Gemini, Capricorn, Ophiuchus

 

Amazonite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, amazonite;

Length: 5 cm;

Weight: 29,5 g;

Chakras: Heart, Throat;

Astrological sign: Virgo, Aquarius

Crinoide stone pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, crinoide stone;

Length: 3,3 cm;

Weight: 16 g

 

Green calcite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, green calcite

Length: 5,8 cm;

Weight: 36,3 g;

Chakras: Base, Causal, Crown, Heart;

Astrological sign: Capricorn

 

Leopardskin jasper pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, leopardskin jasper (jaguar stone);

Length: 3,6 cm;

Weight: 15,5 g;

Chakras: Root, Heart, Crown;

Astrological sign: Scorpio, Gemini

 

Fuchsite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, fuchsite;

Length: 4,3 cm;

Weight: 20,5 g;

Chakra: Third Eye

 

Fluorite crystal pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, fluorite;

Length: 2,7 cm;

Weight: 6,3 g;

Chakras: Causal, Crown, Frontal, Heart, Third Eye;

Astrological sign: Gemini, Capricorn, Ophiuchus

Ruby Zoisite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, ruby zoisite;

Length: 4,3 cm;

Weight: 12,6 g;

Chakras: Crown, Heart;

Astrological sign: Aries

 

Smoky quartz pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, smoky quartz;

Length: 5,2 cm;

Weight: 24,9 g;

Chakras: Base, Crown, Earth Star, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Throat, Thymus;

Astrological sign: Capricorn, Ophiuchus

 

Kyanite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, kyanite;

Length: 4,3 cm;

Weight: 7,5 g;

Chakras: Third Eye, Throat;

Astrological sign: Aries, Taurus, Virgo, Libra, Ophiuchus


Agate pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, agate;

Length: 3,7 cm;

Weight: 11,2 g


Jasper pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, jasper;

Length: 3,5 cm;

Weight: 6,5 g

 

Raw aquamarine pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

                                                                                                                                

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, aquamarine;

Length: 3,5 cm;

Weight: 6,9 g;

Chakras: Frontal, Soul Star, Third Eye, Throat;

Astrological sign: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Pisces, Ophiuchus

 

Raw dark amethyst pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, amethyst;

Length: 4;

Weight: 13,5 g;

Chakras: Causal, Crown, Frontal, Soul Star, Stellar Gateway, Third Eye;

Astrological sign: Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Ophiuchus

Angelite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, angelite;

Length: 3,3 cm;

Weight: 14,2 g;

Chakra: Throat;

Astrological sign: Aquarius, Pisces

 

Malachite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, malachite;

Length: 4 cm;

Weight: 17,7 g;

Chakras: Base, Heart, Solar Plexus, Soul Star, Third Eye, Thymus;

Astrological sign: Scorpio, Capricorn

Heliodor pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, heliodor;

Length: 3 cm;

Weight: 3,7 cm;

Chakra: Solar Plexus

Lapis lazuli pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, lapis lazuli;

Length: 3 cm;

Weight: 6,6 g;

Chakras: Crown, Frontal, Link, Stellar Gateway, Third Eye, Throat;

Astrological sign: Libra, Ophiuchus

Quartz pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, quartz;

Length: 4,8 cm;

Weight: 10,3 g;

Chakras: Crown, Earth Star, Heart, Link, Third Eye, Thymus;

Astrological sign: Leo, Capricorn

Lepidolite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, lepidolite;

Length: 3 cm;

Weight: 5,9 g;

Chakras: Crown, Heart;

Astrological sign: Virgo, Libra

Tangerine calcite pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, tangerine calcite;

Length: 4,8 cm;

Weight: 4,1 g;

Chakra: Sacral

Tiger eye stone pendant wire wrapped in sterling silver

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 0,45 mm silver wire, tiger eye stone;

Length: 3,6 cm;

Weight: 12,7 g;

Chakras: Causal, Solar Plexus, Third Eye, Throat;

Astrological sign: Taurus, Gemini, Libra, Capricorn, Ophiuchus

3. Conclusion

Winner: Wendy Wendy

Thank you all for the great support 🙂