A study on the Scythian Earrings

Scythian Earrings in the Black Sea region had completely degenerated, stifled by motifs and shapes of Greek origin, retaining its representational realism and its full emotional vitality. The purpose of this study is to review and research the symbolic meaning and classifying the types of the Scythian Earrings style through the tombs bequests. The Scythian Earrings were divided into the styles according to the shape, Earring with Ends Shaped like animal's Heads, Boat-Shaped Earrings, Bird-Shaped Pendants earrings, Earrings with a Disc and a Pendant, Earrings Shaped like the Figures, Earring with the drop Pendant, Spiral Earrings. Earrings based on the boat shape enjoyed a long popularity among the Scythians. As that form became elaborated and combined with the disk-pendent, it reflected native rather than Asian or Hellenic tastes. Although Scythian earrings were produced based on the shapes of Greece earrings, they recreated these as Scythian unique style. In particular, the animal motive and the decoration have various changes. The exquisite earrings attest to the elegant taste and splendid wealth of the upper classes.