Wall lamp with an eagle. Scythian, 5th century BC.
Gold.
Provenance: private collection, Spain. Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 2007.
Good state of preservation.
Measurements: 4.7 cm high, 5.3 cm wide. (without base)
Scythian applique in the shape of an eagle, with decorative incisions that follow rhythmic patterns to define feathers and other anatomical details. Often taking the form of griffins (mythological beings that are half eagle and half lion), birds are an integral part of Scythian cosmology, as evidenced by the proliferation of the motif found on jewellery and decoration found on household and grave goods. The Scythians were a group of peoples of Iranian origin, nomadic pastoralists and breeders of riding horses. They dominated the Pontic steppe during Classical Antiquity, known as Scythia. In Late Antiquity they were subdued by the Sarmatians, a culturally related people who eventually replaced them in their dominance of the steppes. Although these peoples are known to have existed since 2000 BC, their first appearance in history dates back to the 7th century BC, when they signed an alliance with the Assyrians. Centuries later, however, they collaborated with the Medes to end the Assyrian Empire. The Scythians experienced their greatest political, cultural and economic development during the 4th century BC. Many of them became sedentary farmers, settling in the northern part of the Sea of Azov.