Statuette of a Scythian (Saka) Warrior

Description

The statuette was accidentally discovered on one of the sandy hills in the lower reaches of the Shu River. It depicts a mounted warrior wearing a helmet and a belt. The rider’s face and lower part of the head are tightly covered with a soft helmet. A straight, prominent nose, open eyes, thick eyebrows, and firmly pressed lips give the figure a focused, warlike appearance. The Saka people inhabited the territory of present-day Zhambyl Region between the 7th and 3rd centuries BCE. It is possible that this statuette was used as part of a sacrificial ritual common among the Saka.