Was Zoroastrian Art Invented in Chorasmia?

Relevance. The relevance of this study is determined by its examination of the dramatic poem «Orgy» through a historical-receptive lens. This approach allows for the identification of the mechanisms behind the author’s interpretation of the historical period and the tracing of the specifics of the reception of Antiquity within the text. Aim. The aim of the article is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the dramatic poem «Orgy» by the Ukrainian writer and poet Lesia Ukrainka, utilizing the methodological framework of classical reception studies. It also seeks to identify the mechanisms and reveal the role of these historical borrowings in the context of the author’s vision of Antiquity as a whole, and specifically the Greco-Roman relations from the military conquest of Hellas to the era of the Second Sophistic (2nd century BC – 2nd century AD). Methodology. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism and objectivity, characterized by an interdisciplinary approach. The theoretical and methodological framework relies on the principles of receptive aesthetics and the concepts of classical reception studies. The study also employs analytical, hermeneutic, and comparative-historical methods. Results. The study establishes that the specificity of the author’s interpretation of historical events, against which the main plot unfolds, lies in chronological hybridization – combining two temporal spaces to provide a deeper elucidation of Greco-Roman relations. It was found that the historical narrative in the work functions as a «safe distance» for constructing analogies between the past and the present. The history and specifics of the perception of Greek culture in the ancient world (from the 2nd century BC to the Second Sophistic period in the 2nd century AD) are examined. It is revealed that the reception of Greek culture by ancient Rome, as described in the text, is based on the principles of selectivity and pragmatism, utilized for cultural appropriation to achieve the political self-determination of the Roman elite and the legitimization of power by the Antonine dynasty emperors. The evolution of the concept of «orgy» in a historical context is analyzed: from a sacred ritual associated with the cult of Dionysus to its interpretation by the recipient – ancient Rome. It is established that throughout the plotline, there is a shift in semantic accents regarding the primary definition of the concept of «orgy», which indicates the conflict of Greek and Roman identities depicted in the work. Conclusions. The obtained results indicate that applying the methodology of classical reception allowed for a holistic disclosure of the mechanisms of assimilation and interpretation of ancient history in Lesia Ukrainka’s dramatic poem «Orgy». The study emphasizes that the author appeals to universal problems, actualizing the issue of Greco-Roman relations during Antiquity (2nd century BC – 2nd century AD) as a model of interaction between dominant and subjugated nations. The semantic transformation of the concept of «orgy» serves as a key marker demonstrating the specifics of the Roman reception of Greek culture. The proposed approach opens prospects for further studies of Antiquity in the context of classical reception within the writer’s creative heritage.

Ships and boats form the foundations of the maritime connectivity that is a central part of our understanding of the ancient Mediterranean. While the general chronological sequence of sail and sailing-rig development is well established, the implications are less-well discussed. This article sets out how sails and sailing rigs developed in antiquity, with emphasis on the Greco-Roman world. Subsequently, instances of innovation are defined. Why specific pieces of maritime technology were, or were not, widely adopted is considered. Long-term technological continuity can be comprehended, and a shared maritime culture of sailing in the ancient Mediterranean is suggested.

En dépit de sa simplicité apparente, le fromage était associé à Rome à des enjeux symboliques forts. Son processus de fabrication en faisait une métaphore du processus de civilisation, malgré son lien avec le monde des bergers, et servait de modèle pour comprendre la formation et l’évolution du fœtus dans le ventre maternel. À l’évidence, c’était un aliment consommé quotidiennement par le peuple à la campagne comme à la ville, lors des repas de la journée (jentaculum, prandium) ou à n’importe quel moment. Mais si son utilisation dans les recettes de la « haute cuisine » était marginale, il figurait toujours dans les repas du soir (cena) ou les banquets aristocratiques, dans l’un ou plusieurs des trois services. La texture moelleuse du fromage frais et le goût salé du fromage sec plaisaient aux Romains, de même que la modulation de sa saveur par parfumage ou salage était fidèle au principe « illusionniste » de la « haute cuisine ». L’existence d’une liste des meilleurs fromages de l’Empire atteste que certains d’entre eux étaient impliqués dans une logique de classification et de hiérarchisation, typique de la démarche gastronomique.

Historically, Chinas Xinjiang Region has been important in Chinese-Western cultural exchange. This investigation into the diet of human populations in the Xinjiang region provides substantial information on the interactions between China and the West. We report here on stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of human bone collagen from the 12th century BC to the 2nd century AD at the Yanghai Tombs, Xinjiang. The results of this study indicate the consumption of significant amounts of C3-based animal protein throughout these periods. We argue that animal husbandry dominated the lifestyle of ancient Yanghai populations, while agricultural cultivation was less important. The diet of ancient Yanghai human populations clearly changed with time and is closely related to the fluctuation of human populations. More specifically, there were significant differences in food resources available to the Yanghai ancestors in the middle to late Bronze Age (12th Century BC - 8th Century BC), which may reflect the diversity of these populations. Subsequently, during the early Iron Age (7th Century BC - 3rd Century BC), after an extended period of adjustment and development, the diet of all individuals became more similar. However, during the Han Dynasty (2nd Century BC - 2nd Century AD), the human diet consisted of a larger proportion of animal protein than in earlier periods. This suggests that stockbreeding played a more important role in Yanghai during this time. Based on careful consideration of historical records and archaeological features we suggest that this was due to the arrival of the Huns.

The Topography of Ancient Jerusalem. 2nd Century BC - 2nd Century AD

The article presents the latest results of excavations of one of the reference burials of the Kara-Abyz culture, located in the Iglinsky region of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Materials from six burials containing seven skeletons are introduced into scientific circulation. The funeral rite is characterized by the following features: burials were performed according to the rite of inhumation in simple subrectangular grave pits with rounded corners, vertical walls and a flat bottom. The accompanying equipment is represented by a significant number of bronze decorations: zoomorphic belt plates, belt mirror plaques, round plaques, trapezoidal pendants, etc. Weapon items are represented by iron three-bladed arrowheads, horse harness items are presented by iron bits. From the category of household items are presented by iron knives and a spindle whorl. The grave goods allow us to date the identified burials within the 2nd century BC — 2nd century AD.

For the first time, a contextual consideration of some paleopathological manifestations on the adult skulls from the excavations of the Altyn-Asar 4 (n=363) burial grounds is proposed, which makes it possible to indirectly assess social stratification degree of the population of the Eastern Aral Sea region and the chronological dynamics of some indicators reflecting the quality of life of the population of the era of migrations. Comparison of the total samples selected according to chronology (2nd century BC – 2nd century AD, 2nd – 4th centuries, 4th – 6th centuries) revealed consistently high frequencies of enamel hypoplasia, intercalary bones on the cranial vault and metopic suture. In the sample of 2nd – 4th centuries, a downward trend in the frequencies of caries and abscesses was traced. When correlated with the type of burial structures (crypts of 2 types, soil pits of 4 types), a better state of health of the dental system was revealed in individuals in crypts of the first type, and, in general, in those buried in crypts compared to those buried in the soil pits. The most diverse picture is obtained from the analysis of the materials from the detached cemeteries. The frequencies of discretely varying features confirm the previous conclusions about the heterogeneity of the anthropological composition in the Jetyasar population, in particular, of the migrant origin of those buried in the Altyn-Asar 4m burial ground. Variations in the frequency of dental pathologies, anemia, and enamel hypoplasia may reflect differences in the lifestyle and quality of life of those buried in different necropolises, for example, different levels of dietary stress. A high number of skull injuries, including fatal wounds caused by military weapons, indicate the aggressive nature of the social environment. The greatest number of such damages is observed in the 2nd – 4th centuries‘ series.

It is generally believed that Mahan was founded before the 2nd century BC. According to historical records, Mahan began with King Jun's migration and settlement in the Iksan area. Since there are not many cases that have been investigated in relation to the residential areas with living remains, few facts of them are known accurately. The tombs constructed include wooden coffin tombs with stone mound, pit tombs, and jar coffin tombs. Out of them, however, wooden coffin tombs with stone mound and pit tombs from an early period are sporadically identified, and the mainly excavated relics are bronze ware. Following the southward transfer of King Jun, a large group of tombs were constructed as in Madong, and the relics excavated are featuring both bronze and iron ware. In light of this, it can be said that the Mahan society in the Iksan region during the establishment period developed by actively accepting advanced civilization. Around the 1st century, the Mahan society in the Iksan region faced a period of stagnation, and villages began to be built in full swing after the 2nd century AD, reaching a peak in the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. Large-scale settlements appeared in places like Sadeok and Jangshin and small- and medium-sized villages were formed and organically connected to each other around the large-scale settlements in the center. As for tombs, mounded tombs with an encircling ditch began to be built in earnest, and it can be seen as the developing period of Mahan culture.. The Mahan culture in the Iksan area sustained even after Baekje territorialization. Such dwellings as four-pillar and non-four-pillar types of Mahan culture continued and, in some dwellings, fire pits made of plate stone and utensils which can be seen as Baekje elements appear and Baekje pottery is found in the sites of dwellings. Furthermore, dwelling sites with pillars used for walls related to the center of Baekje made an entrance. Tombs of the Mahan tradition also continued to be built even after Baekje territorialization. However, the stone chamber or stone-lined tomb related to the center of Baekje were employed for burial body and the grave goods changed to Baekje pottery, while Baekje pottery was excavated within the burial mound. In the areas of Ipjeom-ri and Ungpo-ri, the lower reaches of the Geumgang River, stone- built tombs of Baekje style were built in the mid-5th century, an evidence confirming that Baekje first took control of the lower Geumgang River, an important waterway transportation route and gateway. After the Gwangam-ri area in the middle of the Mangyeong River basin first became Baekje territory, Baekje central culture seemed to have entered the surrounding areas, too.

Sturgeon remains have been identified in several French archaeological sites. Accurate observation has led to a new finding: the presence of another sturgeon species by side of Acipenser sturio. This investigation, mostly a reevaluation, was conducted by using the morphological characteristics of dermal bones (bony plates and scutes) that allow discriminating between the two sturgeon species A. sturio from A. oxyrinchus. A. oxyrinchus was found present in several archaeological sites on the French Atlantic coast, dating from the end of the Neolithic Age until the 2nd century AD (C.R. Palevol., 8, 2009, 717); in the Loire River in Roman Times and in the 11th century AD; in the Seine River drainage between the 2nd century BC and first half of 17th century AD, as well as in the Scarpe River flowing into the Scheldt River (France, Belgium and the Netherlands) between the 10th and 11th century AD. In one site, up to 65 sturgeon remains were identified and are attributable to one or the other species. In two out of the four South Atlantic sites, both species were recorded, as well as in one site (Paris-Grand Louvre) of the Seine River. The two species were in sympatry for a long time in several French drainages and sometimes up until recent times. The sympatry of the two species in France gives additional support for this characteristic as a quasi-general rule concerning sturgeons world-wide. The present findings suggest A. oxyrinchus as a native French sturgeon species and new key-issues should be addressed.

Anthropological materials date from the Greco-Roman period of Olbia (1st—3rd centuries AD). Most of the finds can be dated to the 1st—2nd centuries AD, there are the assemblages with a narrower dating — the 2nd century. The main part of the series consists of bone remains from the western part of the Olbia necropolis where, according to the researchers, wealthy people were buried. Several skeletons from the northern part of the Olvian necropolis were involved in analysis. The material comes from the burial structures of different types: earthen crypts, regular graves, niche graves. The material from earthen crypts which, most likely, were the family tombs is dominated in the series. The total series of male skulls is characterized by a long, narrow, mid-height cranium, which is dolichocranial in shape. The forehead is medium wide, the angle of inclination of the frontal bone is medium. The face is of medium height, narrow in absolute dimensions. According to the upper face index, it falls into the mesen category, but with a lepton tendency. The horizontal profiling of the face is sharp. The face is orthognathic. The orbits are medium in size and mesoconch in the orbital index. The nose is medium high, narrow. The bones of the nose protrude strongly, the bridge of the nose is high. The female series in the average appearance is characterized by a long, medium-wide skull. Its height is on the border of medium and significant values. The skull is mesocranial in shape. The frontal bone is medium wide, the angle of inclination belongs to the medium category. The face is medium high, medium wide, according to the index finger is mesen. Its horizontal profiling is sharp. The face is orthognathic. The orbits are medium-high, serose-wide, they are mesoconch-shaped according to the index. The nose is medium high, narrow. The bones of the nose protrude strongly. The bridge of the nose is high. Men’s and women’s series have been considered in the circle of chronologically close series of Europe. According to the results of intergroup analysis of the population, the male series of the first centuries AD from Olbia shows the closest statistical similarity to the Chersonesus series of the 1st—4th centuries AD. The male population of Olbia and Chersonesus show the maximum distance of the inhabitants of Northern Pontic antique cities from the Scythian and Sarmatian series. During the Roman Age Olbia and Chersonesus were in the zone of Roman influence, and Roman legions were periodically stationed there. Perhaps at that time there was an influx of immigrants from the Western Pontic region, which was reflected to a greater extent in the composition of the male part of the inhabitants of both Olbia and Chersonesus. Infiltration of Iranian-speaking people into the population of these cities, if it took place indeed, was not significant. Iranian influences on the formation of the population in the anthropological material are well recorded in the materials from the Bosporan cities. The total female series from Roman Olbia demonstrates the morphological and statistical similarity, first of all, with groups from the Late Scythian hill-forts of the Lower Dnieper: Zolota Balka, Mykolaivka-Kozatska (materials of the 2nd century BC — 2nd century AD), series from several Late Scythian burial grounds of the Crimea — Belyaus and Scythian Neapolis (Eastern burial ground). Among the Northern Pontic antique cities this series is statistically and morphologically closest to the sample from Chersonesus. Most likely, the female population of Roman Olbia and the Lower Dnieper Late Scythian hill-forts had a large extent common genetic basis. It is possible that during hard times for Olbia and the region there was a periodic outflow of population from Olbia to the hillforts or opposite. The population of the individual Late Scythian groups of the Crimea, as well as Late Scythian sites of the Lower Dnieper, was formed primarily from two components, Scythian and Hellenic. In our series from the necropolis of Olbia, deformed skulls are not recorded, and the Olbian groups are statistically very distant from the Early, Middle, and Late Sarmatians.

Dance is a human cultural activity aimed at non-verbal emotional communication, mentioned for the first time in the circle of European culture by Homer in the Iliad (8th/7th century BC). In Indian culture — the most extensive one of four contemporary civilizations of antiquity (next to Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Chinese), whose cradle is the Indus Valley Civilization — the first material evidence of the presence of dance is dated between 2300–1750 BC. It is a bronze statuette of a dancing girl, making us aware of the fact that this type of activity has accompanied people since the dawn of time, regardless of their origin and cultural affiliation. India and its oldest religion, Hinduism, have made this art highly prized because of its original, pure spiritual character.
 The first treatise entirely devoted to dance, entitled Natyashastra (Treatise on Performing Arts), was written according to tradition between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD, although many premises indicate that its beginnings date back to the 5th century BC, and the final version — to around 5th century AD. Its author was Bharata Muni, an ancient sage, theatrologist and musicologist who allegedly received knowledge of arts from the god Brahma himself to create a symbolic representation of the world which, by showing good and evil, would persuade both the viewers and the performers to act ethically. From Natyashastra it appears that dance was created by the gods for their worship. In its most original form, dance grew out of the sacrificial ritual, hence the knowledge of it was secret, highly codified and communicated in strict confidentiality. The patron of the dance and its divine performer par excellence is the god Shiva in the aspect of Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), who in one image combines god as the creator, protector and destroyer of the universe, while simultaneously containing the Indian concept of an endless time cycle. Accurate recreation of the mythical dance initiated by Shiva guarantees that the faithful achieve salvation by overcoming sin, ignorance, and laziness represented by the demon Apasmara, on whom the god treads in a dancing trance.
 For the Indian Hindu culture dance has a highly important ritualistic and mystical meaning, hence it is also present along with music and singing, which is a melodic recitation of sacred verses, in all literature, from the Vedas (sacred books of Hinduism), through encyclopedic Puranas, to epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana. Dance is indispensable to the theater as well as visual and audiovisual arts, brings relief to those in mourning and sorrow, leads to liberation from samsara (the wheel of incarnations), and is a reflection of divinity in its purest, most dynamic manifestation: movement. Thanks to dance being a rejection of oneself, entering a mystical trance, one can connect with the Absolute here on Earth and experience divinity.

Zeytinli Island, which is connected to Balıkesir province Erdek county, is one of the important archaeological excavation sites in our country. The anthropological evaluations of human skeletons obtained from Zeytinli island excavations gave important information about age and gender especially when the skull was taken into account and especially the use of radiological examinations increased the reliability of this information. In particular, theuse of radiological examination sincreas esther reliability of this information. Our study was carried out between 2007 and 2011 by taking the skulls of a total of 22 individuals, 6 females and 16 males between the 2nd century BC and the 12th century AD, uncovered as a result of the excavations performed in Zeytinli Island. The image staken by multislice computed tomography were transformedin to three-dimensional form with workstation software, and their interorbital, biorbital and bizygomatic measurements were performed. The skull measurement values were presented as median (range) with a whisker graphic. The median female and male values were comparedusing the Mann-Whitney test. The Pearson correlation test was used to examine the correlations between the measurement values. The fact that the p-value was below 0.05 was considered significant. Upon evaluating the data, the difference between the male and female interorbital and bizygomatic distances was not found significant (p>0,05). When the biorbital distances were taken into account, the biorbital distances of male skulls were found to be significantly higher compared to those of female skulls (p<0,05) . No significant relationship was found when the analyses of the correlation between interorbital and biorbitaland bizygomatic distances were examined. In our study, the bizigotic distances in the skulls belonging to male individuals are longer than the skulls of female individuals. This shows that the lateral protrusions of the male's skull are more prominent. This is an important criterion for gender discrimination.

Background Vestibular migraine and Menière's disease are two types of episodic vertigo syndromes that were already observed in Greek and Chinese antiquity. Descriptions first appeared in the work of the classical Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia, who lived in the 2nd century AD, and in Huangdi Neijing, a seminal medical source in the Chinese Medical Classics, written between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD. Aim The aim of this paper is to search in Aretaeus' book De causis et signis acutorum et chronicorum morborum and in Huangdi Neijing for descriptions of vertigo co-occurring with headache or ear symptoms that resemble current classifications of vestibular migraine or Menière's disease. Results Aretaeus describes a syndrome combining headache, vertigo, visual disturbance, oculomotor phenomena, and nausea that resembles the symptoms of vestibular migraine. In the Chinese book Huangdi Neijing the Yellow Thearch mentions the co-occurrence of episodic dizziness and a ringing noise of the ears that recalls an attack of Menière's disease. Conclusions The descriptions of these two conditions in Greek and Chinese antiquity are similar to the vertigo syndromes currently classified as vestibular migraine and Menière's disease. In clinical practice it may be difficult to clearly differentiate between them, and they may also co-occur.

The tomb monuments handled in this paper are located in the Olba region, east of Rough Cilicia. It is common for the tomb monuments which are named as D1 and D2 that they have a prostylos plan. Architrave and frieze are worked out of the same block and the upper construction elements show parallelities to each other. Both possess pediments. Besides there similarities, differences between the two tombs are obvious: The capitals of the columns of D1 are Ionic, those of D2 are Doric. D1 has a burial chamber constructed of carved stones. On the other hand the burial chamber of D2 is carved out of the main rock and has the cha­racteristics of a rock-cut tomb. The D1 tomb has a gable roof and a pediment. The roof of this tomb consists of plain blocks streched from one arch to the other. Over these blocks rest the gable formed roof blocks. Therefore this monument is a temple tomb in all its details. Furthermore the burial chamber shows the typical decoration of a temple tomb. By D2 the pediment was intended only for the front part and seems not to have a gable behind. D2 just imitates monumental tombs, itself being a rock-cut tomb. One of the most important criteria for the dating of the tombs are the Ionic capitals of D1. The par­allels for these capitals in Anatolia are dated between the late 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The other tombs with Ionic capitals in the Olba region are also dated to the same period. Two of these are the temple tombs in Imbriogon Kome with Ionic capitals on the lower columns. The roof co­nstruction of these temple tombs stand also with their roof construction close to tomb D1. The third tomb with Ionic capital is a rock-cut tomb and should not be dated earlier than the 2nd century AD. The given facts point to early 3rd century AD for D1. It is possible to offer the same date also for D2 because of the similarities.

This article treats the southern part of Pontic Olbia, where in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD internal fortifications were erected. The arrangement of the buildings there has been investigated and the lay-out of the structures excavated over the last forty years has been analysed. Individual finds have been examined and also the extent to which they correspond to the main elements in the material culture of Roman military camps within the European limes, particularly those within the Danubian provinces closest to Olbia. The conclusion has been drawn to the effect that the southern part of Olbia in the 2nd century AD and the first half of the 3rd was indeed a citadel, which housed a contingent of auxiliary troops and which could with every justification be compared to an auxiliary fort.