AUROCHS’ DRINKING HORN FROM THE CHERNAYA MOGILA KURGAN: AN INTERPRETATION OF DECORATIONS

Authors

  • Aleksej Vladimirovic Cernecov Institute of Archaeology of RAS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH202398-416

Keywords:

Chernaya Mogila, kurgan of the 10th c., binding plate, drinking horn, Scandinavian mythological motif – Ragnarök

Abstract

This article examines the narrative images on the silver binding plate of the aurochs’ drinking-horn from the Chernaya Mogila kurgan (“Black Grave”), located in modern Chernigov and dated to the 10th century. The exceptional wealth of grave goods suggests it belonged to a princely dynasty, reflecting the cultural features of military elites on the eve of the Medieval Rus’ State’s foundation, just prior to Christianization. This culture exhibited a syncretism of Scandinavian traditions and Oriental elements introduced by Eurasian steppe nomads. B.A. Rybakov’s 1949 interpretation suggests that the decorations illustrate a motif from a Russian epic song (bylina). However, this view is contested due to some considerable reasons. The researcher notes that the anthropomorphic figure struck by its own arrow finds parallels in a magical formula from a 10th-century pagan oath. This study proposes an alternative interpretation associating the horn’s imagery with Scandinavian mythology, specifically the Ragnarök motif. The decoration appears to depict the monstrous wolf Fenrir breaking his fetters and anthropomorphic figures fleeing from him. A rooster, possibly linked to Elder Edda texts, may herald the onset of dramatic events. The Scandinavian nature of the decoration is supported by notable parallels, including a symmetrical pair of twisted beasts of prey on a pendant-medallion and a bird with crossed wings on a Gotland stone, along with various stylistic details. The interpretation of the drinking horn’s decorations as representing a central episode in Scandinavian mythological and poetic traditions holds significant implications for understanding the art historical, ethno-cultural, social, and political features of the Medieval Rus’ State’s formative period.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Aleksej Vladimirovic Cernecov, Institute of Archaeology of RAS
    DSc. (history), Professor Chief Researcher

References

Rybakov B.A. Antiquities of Chernigov. Materials and Studies of Medieval Russian Cities. MIA. Moscow; Leningrad: Academy of Sciences of the USSR. 1949, 11(1): 7-102. (In Russ)

Born W. Das Tiergeflecht in der Nordrussischem Buchmalerei. Seminarium Kondakovianum. Praha: Institut Kondakov. 1932, 5: 62-95. (In German).

Korzukhina GF. Aurochs’ Drinking-Horns from Chernigov Kurgans. In Stone and Bronze. Collected papers in the honour of Anna Peskova. Proceedings of the Institute of History of Material Culture RAS. Saint-Petersburg: Nevskaya Knizhnaya Tipografiya, 2017, 48: 620-646. (In Russ)

Chernetsov AV. On the Character of the Pagan Culture of Warriors of Chernigov Land. Historical and Archaeological Seminar “Chernigov and its Vicinities in 9-13th cent.” (1985, April 15-18). Abstracts of Reports. Chernigov, 1985: 55-58. (In Russ)

Chernetsov AV. On the Pagan Culture of Warriors of Chernigov Land. Chernigov and its Vicinities in 9-13th cent. Kiev: Naukova dumka; 1988: 143-152 . (In Russ)

Darkevich V.P. Chernaya Mogila. Ancient Rus’ in the Medieval World. Encyclopedia. Moscow: Ladomir, 2014: 874-876. (In Russ)

Complete Collection of the Russian Chronicles. Vol. 2. Ipatievskaya Chronicle. Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura Publ., 1962. (In Russ)

Shchavelev AS. The Entry of Ipatievskaya Chronicle on Chernaya Mogila. Chernigov in the Medieval and Early Modern History of Central and Eastern Europe. A Collection of Scientific articles Devoted to the 1100th Anniversary of the First Chronical Entry on Chernigov. Ed. Kovalenko O.B. Chernigiv: Desnianska pravda, 2007: 100-106. (In Russ)

Samokvasov DYa. Tombs of the Russian Land. Moscow: Sinodalnaya tipografiya, 1908. (In Russ)

Sedov VV. Eastern Slavs in 6th-13th centuries. Moscow: Nauka, 1982. (In Russ)

Fetisov AA. Kurgans of Warriors. Drevniaya Rus’ v srednevekovom mire. Entsiklopedia. Moscow: Ladomir, 2014: 265-267. (In Russ)

Complete Collection of the Russian Chronicles. Lavrentievskaya Chronicle and Suzdal Chronicle after Academic Manuscript. Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura Publ., 1962. (In Russ)

Sedov VV. Slavs in the Early Middle Ages. Moscow: Fond arkheologii, 1995. (In Russ)

Čilinská Z. Slawisch-awarischen Gräberfeld in Nové Zámky. Bratislava: Vyd-vo Slovenskej akad. vied. 1966. (In German).

Manassero N. Rhita e corni potori dall’Eta del Ferro all’epoca sasanide. Libagioni pure e misticismo tra la Grecia e il mondo iranic. BAR International Series 1750, 2008. (In Italian).

Masson ME., Pugachenkova GA. Parthian Rhyta from Nysa. Album of Illustration. Cultural Heritage of Turkmen People. Proceedings of the South Turkmenistan Complex Archaeological Expedition of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmen SSR. Moscow: Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vol. 4, 1956. (In Russ)

Jansson I., Melnikova EA., Tegner G., Panova TD. The Viking Heritage: a dialogue between Cultures. Moscow, Stockholm: Centraltryckeriet, 1996. (In Russ., Eng.).

Music. Lübker F. (Comp.). Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Vol. 2. Moscow: «OLMA-PRESS», 2001. (In Russ)

Kühnel E. Die sarazenischen Olifanthörner. Jahrbuch der Berliner Museen, N.F., des Jahrbuchs der Preussischen Kunstsammlungen, 1959, 1: 33–50, 21 figs. (In German).

Falke O. Elfenbeinhörner. Byzanz. Panthéon. München: 1930, 5(1). (In German).

Darkevich VP. Secular Art of Byzantium. Objects of Byzantine Artistic Craft in Eastern Europe of 10-13th cent. Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1975. (In Russ)

Ryan WF. The Bathhouse at Midnight. An Historical Survey of Magic and Divination in Russia. Series Historia Rossica. Chernetsov A.V., editor. Moscow: Novoe Literaturnoe Obozrenie, 2006. (In Russ)

Register of the Moscow State Armory. Album. Part I. Moscow: Tipografiya Obshchestva rasprostraneniya poleznykh knig, 1884.

Chernetsov AV. Carved Staves of 15th cent. (Manufactured by Artisans of Moscow Kremlin). Darkevich V.P., ed. Moscow: Nauka, 1987. (In Rus., Eng.).

Rybakov B.A. Paganism of Ancient Russia. Moscow: Nauka, 1987. (In Russ)

Graham-Campbell J. The Viking World. London: Frances Lincoln Publ., 1980.

Arne T. Sweden and Orient. Archaeological Research of Interrelations between Sweden and Orient in the Viking Age. Moscow: IA RAN, 2023. (In Russ)

Dienes I. The Hungarians at the Time of the Conquest and their Ancient Beliefs. In: Hajdú P. (ed.). Ancient Cultures of the Uralian Peoples. Budapest: Corvina Press, 1976. pp. 79–114.

Borsos B. Staghorn Powder-flasks. Budapest: Corvina Kiadó, 1982.

Murasheva VV. Composite belts of Gnezdovo (Issues of Reconstruction). Society, Economy, Culture and Art of Slavs. Proceedings of the VI International Congress of Slavic Archaeology. Moscow: Editorial URSS. 1998, 4: 252-257. (In Russ)

Murasheva VV. Ancient Russian Strap Composite Decorations (10-13th cc.). Moscow: Editorial URSS, 2000. (In Russ)

Strikalov IYu. Belt Set Details of 11th cent. Recent Finds from Staraya Ryazan. Staraya Ryazan: Major Urban Centre on International Trade Routes. Proceedings of Scientific Conference. Moscow: IA RAN, 2020:23-27. (In Russ)

Buslaev FI. Historical Essays on Russian Manuscript Ornament. Petrograd: Otdel russkogo yazyka i slovesnosti Akademii Nauk, 1917. (In Russ)

Il’ina TV. Decoration of Old Russian Books. Novgorod and Pskov, 12-15th cc. Leningrad: LGU Publ., 1978. (In Russ)

Salin B. Die Altgermanische Thierornamentik. Stockholm: K.L. Beckmans Buchdruckerei, 1904. (In German).

Lindqvist S. Gotlands Bildsteine. Stockholm: Kungl. Vitterhets Historie und Antikvitetens Akademie (Wahlstrom & Widstrand), Vol. 2., 1942. (In German).

Meletinskiy EM., Gurevich AYa. Germanic-Scandinavian Mythology. In: Tokarev S.A (ed.). Myths of the Peoples of the World. Encyclopedia. Moscow: Sovetskaya Entsiklopediya, Vol. 1, 1991: 284-292. (In Russ)

Vasilenko VM. Russian Applied Art. Origins and Formation. Moscow: Iskusstvo, 1977. (In Russ)

Sizov VI. Kurgans of Smolensk Province. St. Petersburg: Tipografiya Glavnogo Upravleniya Udelov, Issue 1, 1902. (In Russ)

Pushkina TA. Bronze Idol from Chernaya Mogila. Vestnik MSU. Series 8. History. 1984, 3: 86, 87. (In Russ)

Murasheva VV., Orfinskaya OV., Loboda AYu. New Story of the «Idol» from the Kurgan Chernaya Mogila (10th c.). Rossiyskaya Arkheologiya. 2019, 1: 73–86. (In Russ)

Khamayko NV. Tavley Kings of the 10th cent. The Slavs of Eastern Europe on the eve of Foundation of Ancient Russian State. Proceedings of International Conference in honor of 110 anniversary of Ivan Ivanovich Lyapushkin (1902-1968). Saint Petersburg, December 3-5, 2012. Saint Petersburg, 3–5 dekabrya 2012 g.]. Shcheglova O.A., Goryunova V.M. (eds.). Saint-Petersburg: Solo, 2012: 284-288. (In Russ)

Murasheva VV. «Idol» from Gnezdovo. Rossiyskaya Arkheologiya. 2005, 1: 124-129. (In Russ)

Elder (Poetic) Edda: Epic. Transl. by Korsun A.N. Saint-Petersburg: Azbuka-klassika, 2001. (In Russ)

Stalsberg A. Interpretation of Scandinavian Burials in a Boat from Territory of Ancient Russia. Society, Economy, Culture and Art of Slavs. Proceedings of the VI International Congress of Slavic Archaeology. Vol. 4. Moscow: Editorial URSS, 1998: 362-371. (In Russ)

Kainov SYu., Shchavelev AS. The Image of a Cross on Spearhead from Chernaya Mogila (Technology and Semantics). In: Dzhakson T.N. (ed.). The Earliest States of Eastern Europe. 2003. Fictitious Realities in Classical and Medieval. Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura, 2005: 83-90. (In Russ)

Orlov RS. Middle Dnieper Tradition of Artistic Metalwork in 10th – 11th cc. Culture and Art of Medieval City. Moscow: Nauka, 1984: 32-52. (In Russ)

New in Archaeology of Kiev. Kiev: Naukova dumka, 1981. (In Russ)

Steblin-Kamenskiy MI. (ed.). Snorri Sturluson. Heimskringla. Moscow: Nauka, 1980. (In Russ)

Steblin-Kamenskiy MI. (ed.). Younger Edda. Leningrad: Nauka, 1970. (In Russ)

Downloads

Published

2024-08-12

Issue

Section

Archeology

How to Cite

1.
Cernecov AV. AUROCHS’ DRINKING HORN FROM THE CHERNAYA MOGILA KURGAN: AN INTERPRETATION OF DECORATIONS. ИАЭК. 2024;20(2):398-416. doi:10.32653/CH202398-416