Treasures of the Sarmatians
25 November 2009 - 25 May 2010
Reiss-Engelhorn-Museum, Mannheim, Germany
55 exhibits

The Treasures of the Sarmatians exhibition includes samples of ancient art originating from the famous burial sites found in the Lower Don region, in particularly the burial mounds of Khokhlach (located in the Novocherkassk city vicinity and excavated in 1864) and Dachi (discovered in 1986 not far from Azov). The former tomb is that of a distinguished woman (a priestess of the goddess of fertility), the latter being that of a glorious warrior or a tribal king. Both burial complexes had been the subject of attacks by grave-robbers who, however, luckily for us failed to discover the hidden recesses where the kinsmen of the deceased carefully placed the most valuable offerings. Among them there are pieces not only remarkable but unique. One of the doubtless masterpieces is the diadem originating from the Khokhlach mound. Its upper edge is decorated with a figurative frieze representing a ritual scene of sacrificial animals (deer and mountain goats) processing towards the Tree of Life. Equally noteworthy is the golden sheathed dagger from the Dachi sepulchral complex. Its haft and sheath are elaborately ornamented with repetitive multiple images of a camel being attacked by a vulture executed in the polychrome Sarmatian animal style. Among other original works of Sarmatian art are neck torques (grivnas), bracelets and perfume flasks decorated with images of animals and fantastical creatures which were found during excavation of the Khokhlach mound.

Among offerings found in tombs of Sarmatian noblemen there is metal tableware of Roman and Mediterranean origin. Occasionally its articles form complete sets like the two displayed at the exhibition. The most remarkable artifact is the unique silver vessel with a zoomorphic handle, ornamented with a decorous ritual inscription that is a lection from the Avesta (ancient scripture of the Iranian nations). Sarmatians gained possession of such objects in various ways. Some of them were received as gifts of distinction from Roman emperors: Sarmatians were skilled warriors and often served as mercenaries in the Roman army. But the fact did not prevent them from occasionally sacking cities and provinces of the empire, so some of the items may have been seized as trophies. Finally, they may have been obtained by way of peaceful trade and barter.

For more than a thousand years the Northern Black Sea littoral region was dominated by nomadic tribes of cattle-breeders who used to speak languages of the Iranian family and are collectively referred to by contemporary authors as Scythians (7th - 3rd centuries B.C.) and Sarmatians (2nd century B.C. - 4th century A.D.). Being basically nomadic people, Sarmatians founded no stationary settlements. The numerous burial sites scattered all over the steppes of Southern Russia, are the only source of archaeological data on their culture and way of life.

The Sarmatians traditionally laid their dead ones to rest in wide rectangular ditches or catacomb graves under earthen mounds. Like other ancient people, they believed in life after death, and placed his/her paraphernalia inside the tomb, together with other gifts and offerings. The more well-off and distinguished the deceased had been, the more numerous and variegated were the items included for the afterlife. These gifts often consisted of a garment decorated with sewn-on golden plaques and a number of gold adornments: grivnas, bracelets and belt buckles. In case the deceased was a female the offerings included all kinds of jewellery pieces: earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces of beads made of gold or coloured glass, alongside with toiletware: bronze mirrors, bone combs, decorous flasks for perfume, rouge and ceruse.

Sarmatian culture flourished at the dawn of the first century AD, especially after the Alan tribes came to inhabit the Lower Don region. It is from this period that the most well-known local burial sites are dated.

The period of 2nd-4th centuries A.D. was marked by a decline in Sarmatian civilization with significant changes in cultural and artistic traditions such as complete obliteration of the formerly characteristic animalistic style. Objects found in excavated burial mounds of the time include mainly golden items of jewellery in the Graeco-Roman style: ornamental pendants, earrings, necklaces, perfume flasks decorated with coloured glass, garnet and sard in brazed-on bezels.

The display is crowned with decorated horse harnesses dating from the late 3rd to early 4th century A.D. and previously untypical of the area around the Northern Black Sea littoral. They are lavishly adorned with major implantations of sard, as well as embossed geometrical ornament of circles and crosses, filigree and false granulation.

The Sarmatian epoch ended with the arrival of bellicose tribes of Turk and Mongol origin in the region. According to the sources available in 370s A.D. the Sarmatians were defeated by the Huns. Some of the Sarmatian tribes chose to join the invaders and very soon lost their original identity, while others (like the Alans) were forced to migrate further westward where they collided with other Barbaric peoples. In any case, in the late 4th century A.D. the Northern Black Sea littoral ceased to be dominated by Iranian peoples.