ANTENNAE POMMELS OF SCYTHIAN AKINAKAI. ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION

Abstract

The unusual ‘antenna’ design of the pommels of the akinakai (in the form of antennae or volutes) drew the attention of researchers of the Scythian blade weaponry quite early. In addition, the shape of the pommel lies on the basis of all known classification schemes of Scythian swords and daggers. Researchers have long paid attention to the amazing similarity of this type of decoration with those that were made in the Late Bronze and Hallstattian time in Central Europe. However, for the Central European daggers, the antenna pommel is a rather late phenomenon and is fixed not earlier than in HaB period. Moreover, Early Nomadic (e.g. ChernogorovkaNovocherkassk) swords and daggers with the antennae pommels are still unknown. Due to chronological observations, the time of the appearance of the antenna pommel is the 2nd half of the 7th century BC. During this period, the simple antennae pommels are independently connected with the three main regions: the North Caucasus, the Dnieper Forest-steppe and the Carpathian-Danube. In the Early Scythian period, the antenna pommel is more of an experimental exception than a formal tradition. Ambivalence in the design of the pommel is demonstrated by the history of the Scythian blade weapon during all periods, beginning with the Early Scythian. So, there are known the Kelermes and Gudermes akinakai with antennae or volutes. In the Middle Scythian period, the antennae are known for such types of akinakai like Shumeyko, Vettersfelde and single-edged swords of the Nógrád type. The time of the wide distribution of antennae pommels is the end of the Middle Scythian period (550-425 BC). From the mid 6th century akinakai with ornitomorphic pommels appear on the territory of European Scythia, but these items are not associated with the Early Scythian production centers. Apparently, the appearance of ornithomorphic and zoomorphic pommels fit within the framework of the common Eurasian tradition, e.g. griffin daggers spread in the Volga-Ural, Semirechye, Sayano-Altai and Northern China at this time. A realistic ornithomorphic pommel of the Găiceana type appears on a wide series of swords and daggers with a hilt in a form of the Thracian shield. Since the 5th century BC, the simplification of the ornithomorphic pommels begins, taking the evolution away from the realism. Already at the end of the 5th century BC ornithomorphic design is finally schematized, turning into an ornamental approach. Over time, a typological series of antenna pommels in the form of heads of birds of prey, starting with the big realistic forms, gradually evolves towards minimization and schematism, possibly connected with the loss of the original image.