Scythian Lead Votive Artifacts. 7th to 4th Century BC.
These lead artifacts were unearthed near the ancient Scythian town of Gota (Olbia), on the fringes of ancient Greece. The area is now known as Ukraine.

To the Scythians, 'Gota' or 'place of the cows' was called so because of the ox-worshipping cult of the area. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, the powerful Scythian king named Skil (Skyul or Skul) reigned from a large palace here (Herodotus IV: 79).

Oxen and other animals were a favorite motif in the local histories, and a number of lead votive artifacts have been found in the area. The skulls of seven bucrania (bulls) were discovered in the cistern of the town, and lead offerings depicting the bull skull adorned with wreaths and other decorations were found in the region as well.

Offered here are three of these actual votive offerings--uncleaned--as discovered here. Above is a photograph taken on the Greek island of Delos of a column base depicting the sacred figure.

Click on any picture for a larger view

Excellent Bucranium (bull head) plaque! Measures 39x29 mm. #bucr9825: $85
Votive Axe-head
35x17 mm. #axe4102: $65 SOLD

Crescent amulet
34 mm across. #cres01: $50
Large Scythian lead plaque. 45x31 mm. #9846: $50
Scythian lead plaque in the form of a ram's horn. 38x38 mm. #9856: $60
Scythian lead amulet depicting a male head in wide-brimmed hat. 19x19 mm. Very interesting! #9814: $85
Bucranium plaque
30x27 mm. #bull03: $85 SOLD
Votive piece depicting two running horses. Measures 38 mm. Nice! #9833: $135 SOLD
Lot of 2 Scythian lead votive items. #9874: 18 - 35 mm. $40/pair SOLD

An inscription has been discovered in the area on a gold ring attributed to him: BASILEWS SKUL ALKIM 'Of the brave king¨Skyl'. For information regarding to the bucrania discovered in a cistern, see (Levi 1985: 83-4, fig. 77).


Every item comes with a 100% Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.

To make a purchase, or for more information, CLICK HERE

All contents (C) 2003-2011 AD. All rights reserved.
Owned, Operated, and Obsessed Upon by Gabriel Vandervort.
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Related search topics: ancient Scythian, Bucranium for sale, Scythian Bucranium, Greek Bucranium art, lead Bucranium frieze, Bucranium offering, votive Bucranium, Scythian art, Scythian artifacts, Scythian history, Scythian bow, Scythian arrows, Scythian arrowheads, Scythian gold, Scythian ancient artifacts for sale