REGARDING THE ATTRIBUTION OF SOME ITEMS FROM THE LYTA MOHYLA

Abstract

The «Melgunov hoard» — a burial or burial-commemorative complex, which has been found during the excavations of the Lyta Mohyla in 1763, contained several items, functional destination of which is ambiguous.
 In particular, the gold plate with a depiction of a monkey and three birds is considered by most researchers to be a headdress decoration. However, the characters reproduced on the Melgunov plate in terms of nomenclature and represented subjects are close to the images on precious tableware made by Middle Eastern masters at different times.
 Therefore, it is more likely that this plate was cut from a thin-walled gold cup and was used to decorate the scabbard of a bladed weapon — a dagger or a long knife. Possessing two items of bladed weapons was widespread among the Scythians and it is recorded both in burials and on depiction of stone statues.
 17 plates in the form of a predatory bird are most often classified as belt decorations. But the presence of a gorytos in a burial and the established tradition of decorating arrow cases with gold plates give grounds for attributing these plates precisely as decorations of the gorytos. It does not contradict the area covered with sheets of the gorytos area; a composition formed by several rows of plates is possible; the image of a predatory bird is used; fastening to the leather base with the help of wide loops.
 One more item of bladed weapons in precious scabbard and a ceremonial gorytos, decorated with gold plates, confirm the high — royal — status of the owner of the set of items from the Lyta Mohyla. The proposed attributions, which assume the possible presence of several items of bladed weapons and a gorytos covered with precious plates in the burial complex, find full correspondence among the stable traditions of the Scythian culture.