Sarmatia
(6th B.C.-4th c. A.D.)

On the Kazakh Steppe

Earings, Beslba burial, Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan, Sarmatia 1. Gold earings from the Beslba burial, near Aktyubinsk, northwest Kazakhstan. 6th or 5th c. B.C. (Alma Ata: Kazakh Institute). 6.8 cm. long.
Armlet from Oxus Treasure, Sarmatia 2. Perso-Sarmatian gold armlet from Oxus Treasure with eagle griffin-head terminals (original inlays lost). 5-4th c. B.C. (London: Victoria and Albert or British Museum). 12.2 cm. The Oxus Treasure is a large collection of late 5th-century gold and silver objects made by Sarmatian craftmen working in a variety of styles: Achæmenid, Scythian, even Egptian. The treasure was found in 1877 on the bank of the Oxus River.
Plague with Hauma/Hom, Shaka, Sarmatia 3. Gold plaque. Two warriers with a slain (?) companion rest under the Tree of Life. Symmetry here in tension with asymetry. The centrality of the tree of life (Hauma, Hom) in a belief system typified Sakas specific to the Steppe.
Plaque at Hermitage, Sarmatia 4. Gold plaque. 1st c. B.C. to 1st c. A.D. (Leningrad: Hermitage). The mystical hunter subject matter derives from the Parthians.

On the Pontic Steppe

Phalera, Sarmatia 1. Gilded silver phalera. Real and fantastic animals. Provenance not certain, but apparently North Black Sea coast, 2nd c. B.C. (Paris: Cab. des Médailles). 6". Perhaps of Greek manufacture for the Sarmatian market.
Khoklach Barrow, Novocherkassk, treasure, Aorsi queen, Sarmatia 2. Treasure of Khoklach barrow, Novocherkassk, lower Don. It is associated with a Queen, probably of the Aorsi. 1-2nd C. A.D. Gold with coral and topaz inlay. Cup with stag handle, needle box and perfume box. (Leningrad: Hermitage). Animal figures on diadem reflect influence of the Ordos; the Aorsi came from the eastern edge of Central Asia. Repousée needle and perfume boxes are in a true Sarmatian animal style, with coral, topaz, and red/black eye inlays.
Plague, Sarmatia 3. Pontic Sarmatian gold plaque. Fight between an animal and a serpent theme. (Leningrad: Hermitage). This theme derives from Ordos bronzes.

On the Eastern Steppe

Siberian Sarmatian plague aigrette from Hermitage 1. Siberian Sarmatian gold plaque aigrette in form of giant eagle holding an ibex. (Leningrad: Hermitage)
Siberian Sarmatian plague of tiger and griffin 2. West Siberian - Sarmatian gold plaque. A tiger and a griffin fight. (Leningrad: Hermitage). Typical of the Late Sarmatian animal style.