The Triunity of Images in Pazyryk Artistic Woodcarving

Abstract

The triunity of phenomena, features, images, and objects is a universal principle known since the earliest times and manifested in many ancient artifacts. The most expressive examples relate to objects of art made of metal, bone, and wood. Here we focus on Pazyryk wooden artifacts blending zoomorphic, anthropomorphic, and fantastic images rendered in bas relief, composite, and sculptural carving. Examples demonstrate their merging into a coherent semantic whole. Central images combine three different representations such as griffin, horse, and deer. They functioned as ornaments of composite horse harness and of female headgear. In pommels of “royal” staffs of tribal chiefs, they were markers of supreme power. Also, such artifacts may have played an apotropaic role.