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Philosophy and Culture
Reference:

Tereshchenko T.S. Images of Scythians in the Art of Ancient Greece: cultural-historical context and problems of interpretation

Abstract: The subject of this research is the semiotics of images traditionally identifies as the Scythians (existed in Greek, mostly Attic, vase painting during the period of 570-470 BC, which were most numerous among the present in Greek art of the Others), as well specific aspects of their look (tall hat, pants, bow, gorytos), storylines in which they are represented (associated with war or preparation to it alongside the mythology: Trojan War and mythological characters), and connection with the historical events and cultural phenomena. The author makes an attempt of a comprehensive historical-culturological, iconological and semiotic analysis of the images (primarily Attic) vase painting, traditionally identified as “Scythians” during the period of 570-470 BC. The author reviews the main approaches towards identification of their ethnicity, as well as correlation to the specific historical characters and/or events. Scientific novelty consists in the analysis of the images of Scythians in the extensive cultural-historical context, with regards to the specificity of visual arts as a whole and Greek art in particular, seeing it as a certain semiotic environment and means of cognition of the phenomena of reality. The main conclusion is the presence of the following traits in the images of the proverbial Scythians:

Keywords:

mythology, syncretism, Ancient Greece, visual art, vase painting, Scythians, The Other, Trojan War, culture, Persian wars

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