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Bridle Ornament
4th century BC
Gold
H 41.4 cm
Dnieper valle
Bolshaya Tsimbalka burial mound
This is a typical example of Scythian horse harness decoration. It bears the depiction of a mythological figure - a goddess, half-virgin and half-serpent, from whose alliance with the legendary hero Targitai the Scythians were believed to be descended. The figure, depicted by an artist from the neighbouring Greek colonies, is dressed in hellenistic style and wears upon her head a calathos (part of a priestess's headdress ) topped with a palmette.
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