Scythian drinking horn (rhyton)

06/2009

The silver and partly gilded drinking horn (rhyton) shaped like a Pegasus represents the highest level of period  art. The exquisite piece was made in Attica, in the 6th century BC. Most possibly it was originally a table-decoration, though it was altered several times. In the first part of the 4th century BC the rhyton was given as a gift to a maiote ruler who offered it to a god later on. It was found in the richest tomb (the fourth kurgan)  in 1982 during the excavations of Aul Uljap led by A. M. Leskov.

The drinking horn is ending in a gallopping winged horse. Its front legs start out of its wings. The brim of the rhyton is decorated with lotus and palmetta-formed plates. In the middle of the rhyton a frieze Can be seen presenting some scenes from the myth of the Giants fighting against the gods. The drinking horn is posed on a goblet-like foot; its height is 14,7 inch.

This precious treasure of the State Museum of Oriental Art, Moscow, Russia can be seen in the Hungarian National Musem as a part of the Scythian Gold Treasures exhibition till  2nd of June, 2009.