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
 |
|
|
|
Bucranium plaque
33 x 27 mm. $110 SOLD
|
Bucranium plaque
30 x 27 mm. $85
|
Crescent amulet
34 mm across. $50
|
|
|
|
|
|
Votive Axe-head
33 x 21 mm. $65
|
Votive Axe-head
35 x 17 mm. $65
|
|
To purchase any of these items, or for more information, CLICK HERE
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).
|
|
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
|
