Chortomlyk amphora as a modification of golden “vorvorkas”: the scythian tradition in a component of a masterpiece of greek-scythian torevtics

Abstract

Regarding the possible functional purpose of gold “vorvorkas” (cone-shaped pendants) — one of the mysterious categories of Scythian material culture, many options have been proposed. Some researchers suggest the possibility of their use as ritual items. In this case, it makes sense to pay attention to the Chortomlyk silver amphora, which, in terms of shape, material, manufacturing technique, character of decoration, archaeological context, and finally, functional purpose, finds more or less exact matches among gold cones. Thus, the design of the amphora consists of several “vorvorkas” connected to each other in different ways. Like a number of cone-shaped pendants, the amphora was part of a table “service” made up of several vessels. The plots of the decoration of the golden cones — scenes of tearing, plant compositions or decorations with the participation of anthropomorphic characters correspond to the ornamentation of the Chortomlyk amphora. Decors of “vorvorkas” and amphorae are reproduced in the tradition of “inverted” compositions. Cones, amphorae and also rhytons belong to the category of “flowing” dishes. A possible evidence of the connection of the amphora with the golden cones is the image of a “vorvorka” on the gorytos of one of the characters on the middle frieze of the amphora. This cone can be considered as a certain hint made by the torevtic master, a kind of allusion to the origin of the idea of the Chortomlyk amphora itself. Thus, just like the pectoral from the Tovsta Mohyla in relation to the traditional Scythian jewelry — hryvna (torque), the Chortomlyk amphora appears as a kind of complicated modification of cones. This, in turn, allows proposing several new options for the possible use of these pendants — for pouring of wine from amphorae into drinking vessels, as a volume measure that allowed controlling the distribution of wine, or as a wine purification device that provided its filtration and was associated with the algorithm of the ancient ritual for purifying soma (haoma) and preparing the sacred drink of immortality — amrita.