On the Semantics of Animal Style Ornithomorphic Images in Pazyryk Ritual Artifacts

On the Semantics of Animal Style Ornithomorphic Images in Pazyryk Ritual Artifacts

D.V. Cheremisin.

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 griffi n is the most popular fi gure in Pazyryk art, suggesting that the Pazyryk people may be identifi ed with the “griffi ns guarding gold,” mentioned by Aristeas and Herodotus. The griffi n image is interpreted in the context of Pazyryk ritual grave goods and specifi cally in griffon – horse predatory scenes represented in the attire of the sacrifi cial 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.

Keywords: 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 griffi n is the most popular fi gure in Pazyryk art, suggesting that the Pazyryk people may
be identifi ed with the “griffi ns guarding gold,” mentioned by Aristeas and Herodotus. The griffi n image is interpreted
in the context of Pazyryk ritual grave goods and specifi cally in griffon – horse predatory scenes represented in the attire
of the sacrifi cial 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.