The East-European Scythian animal style and scythian armament (statistical correlation)

The paper provides an analysis of two components in the so-called Scythian Triad - weaponry and the Scythian animal style (Table 1). In the present research the author has compiled the database of 2169 original images (not counting copies) originating from the East European zone of the Scythian-Siberian animal style. The depictions used for shaping and decoration of weaponry totals 9,6%, which is much less than the proportion of images placed on horse equipment details (62,6%). This fact can be explained by large number of accessories used for horse-riding in comparison to the objects of weaponry. Weapons are decorated most frequently with depictions of birds of prey (40,6%) and beasts of prey (mammals) (30,1%); depictions of ungulates are less frequent (22%); syncretic creatures are shown rarely (6,7%), despite the fact that the share of ungulates in the whole body of depictions is considerably higher. This selective approach to the decorative images corresponds the task of intensifying the destructive function of weaponry.