Essay name: Scythian Elements in early Indian Art
Author:
Swati Ray
Affiliation: University of Calcutta / Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture
This essay studies Scythian Elements in early Indian Art—a topic that has not garnered extensive scholarly attention. Although much research has focused on various aspects of Saka/Scythian culture, such as politics and numismatics, their contribution to Indian art remains underexplored. This essay delves into archaeological evidence, historical texts, and art forms from Eurasian steppes to decipher the Scythian impact.
Chapter 6 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Later Art of India
2 (of 42)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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CHAPTER VI
ŚAKA/SCYTHIAN IMPACT ON INDIAN ART OF LATER PERIODS
This chapter deals with the Saka/Scythian elements in Indian art
from about the middle of the first century A.D. onwards. In chapter V above,
we have dealt with Saka/Scythian elements in Indian art in the major areas
of Indo-Scythian rule, i.e., the borderlands and in the north-western part of
the subcontinent, till the middle of the first century A.D.
The major areas once under the Saka/Scythian or Śaka-Pahlava rule
continued to experience the impact of nomadic art styles. This is evident from
the objects unearthed at the sites of Shotorak, Paitāva and Kham Zargar. As
we shall see below, these sites have yielded various utility objects, weapons,
horse trappings, ornaments and sculptured reliefs betraying Saka/Scythian
and Śaka-Pahlava art elements.
