Светильники в погребальном обряде скифов Северного Причерноморья / Lamps in the funeral practice of the Scythians of the North Black Sea littoral

Abstract

The article analyzes the place of the lamps in the funeral practice of the Scythians of the Northern Black Sea littoral. Metal (bronze and iron), as well as wheel made and hand-made lamps are examined. It is indicated that the bronze and wheel made lamps are Greek imports; iron lamps are products of local blacksmiths; hand-made lamps are imitations of Greek wheel made models. A typology that takes into account the morphological features of all vessels is done for hand-made lamps. The wide spread of the lamps in Scythian burial complexes in the North Black Sea littoral in 3rd-2nd centuries BC in comparison with the previous time, testifies about transition to a sedentary way of life of Scythian population at this time and about Greek influence on its funeral practice and material culture.

Keywords

• Scythians
• North Black Sea
• lamp
• funeral practice
• Greek imports