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OLDER THAN DIRT.
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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

Bucranium plaque. Measures 39x29 mm. #bucr9825: $85	Bucranium plaque 30x27 mm. #bull03: $85	Crescent amulet 34 mm across. #cres01: $50
Votive Axe-head 35x17 mm. #axe4102: $65	Votive piece depicting two running horses. Measures 38 mm. Nice! #9833: $135 SOLD	Scythian lead amulet depicting a male head in wide-brimmed hat. 19x19 mm. Very interesting! #9814: $85
Large Scythian lead plaque. 45x31 mm. #9846: $50	Scythian lead plaque in the form of a ram's horn. 38x38 mm. #9856: $60	Lot of 2 Scythian lead votive items. #9874: Measure between 18 and 35 mm. $25 each or $40/pair.

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).