The apotropaic function of the figurative components in the decoration of horse headdress from the Andreevskaya Shchel cemetery (North Caucasus)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52967/akz2023.3.21.68.81Keywords:
archaeology, Eurasia, the North Caucasus, the Middle Ages, horse equipment, artistic metalwork objects, glazed ceramics, apotropaicAbstract
The paper analyzes the apotropaic aspect of the human figures in medallions engraved on the sleeve of the horse headdress from burial 5 of the Andreevskaya Shchel cemetery, and that of the scene the figures compose. In interpreting gestures, postures, and attributes of the male and female characters of the scene the authors compare them with similar features of anthropomorphic amulets, in particular, harness pendants with “a dancing man”. The unclothed human figures shown in the headdress decoration and artistic metalwork items used for comparison prompted the authors to consider the apotropaic aspect of nudity. It was found that some features of the depiction of human figures on the headdress correspond to those in early Islamic art – Nishapur ceramics, whose figurative compositions include characters in tight-fitting clothes. It is concluded that such details of horse gear as a headdress and harness pendants did not only possess amulet features that warded off evil with its light (gilding) and noise (ringing of bells) effects, but also featured the decoration showing its apotropaic function.
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