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Between the Bronze Age and the Early Iron

Age, in the early 1st millenium BC, two
similar cultures, Koban and Colchaian, arose in
the Caucasus. Remarkable bronzesmiths Belt Buckle
produced a range of objects which are now First half of the 1st
well represented in the Hermitage. This large millenium BC
collection of bronzes shows just how Larger view
magnificently metalwork flourished in the
Caucasus during the Prehistoric era.

The nucleus of the Koban collection is formed

of articles discovered in 1869 in a burial
mound in Northern Ossetia, in the aul or Belt Buckle
village of Koban. These include battle-axes, First half of the 1st
daggers, decorative items and other objects, millenium BC
astonishing in the diversity of their shapes, Larger view
their faultless workmanship, elegant contours
and remarkable sculptural qualities. Later,
further sites were uncovered in the central
Caucasus which provided more evidence of
what is now referred to as the Koban Culture.
Koban articles are diverse, but the most typical
are bronze items of the 11th to 4th centuries
BC.

Most objects are covered with engraved or Pin

chased representations of animals. There are First half of the 1st
anthropomorphic figurines and animal millenium BC
figurines of three-dimensional design. Larger view
Generalization and spontaneity and some
degree of realism are typical of Koban objects,
and many of them look astonishingly dynamic.
Divine powers were thought to be embodied in
animals, thus animal images and figurines
assumed the role of protective amulets, and
their use became widespread. Persons wearing

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The State Hermitage Museum: Collection Highlights http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_2_4.html

such amulets were thought to possess the traits

of the animal depicted, such as strength, agility
and astuteness.

Anthropomorphic representations show that

the theme of man was very important in the art
of ancient peoples of the Caucasus. Most
figurines are nude males with emphasized
genitalia, embodying power, abundance, and Axe
sometimes depicting the god of fertility or god 8th-7th centuries BC
of war. Larger view

The Colchaian culture, very close to the Koban

in terms of the production of bronze objects,
appeared in the western Caucasus somewhat
earlier than the Koban culture. Splendid
Colchaian articles have been found, for
example, at Bamborskaya Polyana in
Abkhazia.

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