Central Asia, southern Russian steppe region, Scythian Empire, ca. 8th to 2nd century BCE. An extremely rare cast bronze axe head that features classic Scythian animals. This shaft-hole axe has a small transverse blade that is held by two seated ibex which are facing apart. The body of the axe shows elaborate engraved designs with wings but the end of the axe terminates to a long snake head. Considering known rituals of the ancient Scythians, it is likely this axe was used in a ritual context, especially the animals it displays. Both human and animal sacrifices to a variety of Scythian gods were performed throughout each year, and it is possible a weapon such as this specimen was intended for such practices. Scythians worshiped snakes, believing in their descent from the supreme god known in modern day as the "Snake-Legged Goddess," also referred to as the "Anguipede Goddess." Several representations depict her as a goddess with snakes or tendrils as legs, and was associated to the life-giving principle. Size: 5.5" L (14 cm)

Every year, the Scythians held a ceremony to honor their war god, Ares, during which they sacrificed cattle, horses and every hundredth prisoner of war to him. Libations of wine were poured over the prisoners who were to be sacrificed, following which their throats were cut over a vessel to catch their blood. This vessel was carried to the top of the brushwood high place of the god and the prisoners' blood was poured as libations on the sword functioning as the god's idol, and their right arms were severed and thrown into the sky and left wherever they fell. The use of horses and of the blood and right arms of prisoners in the cult of the Scythian Ares was a symbolic devotion of the swiftness of horses and the strength of men to this god of kingship who had similar powers, and the tall brushwood altar on which the blood was offered to the god was a representation of the world mountain. According to Herodotus, animal sacrifices among the Scythians to all gods except to the Scythian Ares were carried out by tying a rope around the front legs of the sacrificial animal, then the offeror of the sacrifice standing behind the animal and pulling the rope to throw the animal forward, and strangling it to death using a rope tied around the animal's neck and tightened using a stick. The sacrificed animal was then cut up, its flesh was boiled in a cauldron, or, for those who did not have a cauldron, in the animal's own skin, while the bones were added to the fire on which the animal's flesh was cooked so they could be consumed following the approved ritual. Once the meat was cooked, the person who initiated the sacrifice would throw some of cooked meat and entrails into the ground as an offering for the god. This method of sacrifice was typical of the more nomadic Scythians.

Provenance: ex-private New York, USA collection, formed in the 1960s

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