The female burial at Karagodeuashkh, Scythian or Sindo-Maeotian, 340-315 BCE

October 18, 2022

The female burial at Karagodeuashkh, Scythian or Sindo-Maeotian, 340-315 BCE

I couldn't find a lot of concrete info on all this, a lot of it was varied speculation on who the buried was and what the trinkets might represent. The finds may have been from a Sindo-Maeotian elite, of possible Scytho-Greek manufacture. Though some of the sources I looked at say the Sindi were a Scythian tribe, themselves. Others say they were something else. The headdress may feature the deceased woman's apotheosis or deities, or a combination of the two. Unfortunately I couldn't find info on the male buried with her.

Some general geographical info from Strabo: "Upon sailing into the Corocondametis, we meet with Phanagoria, a considerable city, Cepi, Hermonassa, and Apa turum, the temple of Venus (Apatura). Of these cities Phanagoria and Cepi are situated in the above-mentioned island on the left hand at the entrance of the lake; the others are on the right hand in Sindica beyond the Hypanis. There is Gorgipia, but the royal seat of the Sindi is in Sindica near the sea, and Aborace.

All those who are subject to the princes of the Bosporus are called Bosporani. The capital of the European Bosporani is Panticapæum, and of the Asian Bosporani, the city of Phanagorium, for this is the name given to it. Phanagoria seems to be the mart for those commodities which are brought down from the Mæotis, and from the barbarous country lying above it; and Panticapæum, the mart for the commodities which are transported thither from the sea. There is also in Phanagoria a magnificent temple of Venus Apatura, the Deceitful. This epithet of the Goddess is derived from a fable, according to which the giants assaulted her in this place. Having obtained the assistance of Hercules she hid him in a cave, and then admitted the giants one by one into her presence, and delivered them over to Hercules, thus craftily to be put to death.

The Sindi, Dandarii, Toreatæ, Agri, Arrhechi, and besides these, the Tarpetes, Obidiaceni, Sittaceni, Dosci, and many others, belong to the Mæotæ; to this people belong the Aspurgiani also, who live between Phanagoria and Gorgipia, at the distance of 500 stadia [from the Mæotis?]. Polemon, the king, entered the country of these people under a show of friendship, but his design was discovered, and they on their part attacked him unawares. He was taken prisoner, and put to death.

With respect to the Asian Mæotæ in general, some of them were the subjects of those who possessed the mart on the Tanaïs; others, of the Bosporani; and different bodies have revolted at different times. The princes of the Bosporani were frequently masters of the country as far as the Tanaïs, and particularly the last princes, Pharnaces, Asander, and Polemon."

-Strabo's Geography, Book 11.2

Gold triangular platelet from the female burial, Karagodeuashkh (IHMK RAS Archive, negative 1525/38).

Gold jewellery of the female burial, Karagodeuashkh (IHMK RAS Archive, negatives 2427 39; II- 35769). 1, 3 – bracelets; 2 – torc.

Jewellery of the female burial, Karagodeuashkh (IHMK RAS Archive, negatives II-13120; II-II- 35780 35781; III-12926/29). 1 – ring; 2, 5, 10, 15 – scaraboida; 3, 4, 12, 13 – appliqués; 6 – pendants; 7–9, necklaces; 8 – chain; 11 – medallion of vessel (omphalos); 14 –platelet. 1, 3–4, 6, 7–9, 12–14 – gold; 11 – silver; 2, 5, 10, 15 – glass, paste.