Roses, poppies and narcissi : plant iconography at Tillya-tepe and connected cultures across the ancient world
The Tillya-tepe burial site was located in Bactria (Afghanistan) at a nodal point on major trade and communication routes between Rome and China, the northern steppes and India, in a period which represented a high point in trans-Eurasian connectivity. Six 1st century CE elite graves were excavated, producing thousands of objects whose admixture of artistic styles and motifs reflected Tillya-tepe's pivotal position between different cultures. Many of the gold artefacts, including jewellery, costume appliquĂ©s and even some weaponry, featured plant imagery. This research concerns the three most prolific floral motifs. Scholars generally refer to them as 'rosettes', but they represent real species: roses, poppies and narcissi, and are depicted in a manner derived from Graeco-Roman conventions. In this thesis these flowers are first studied on artefacts from Tillya-tepe, and then on objects from Hellenistic, Roman, Bactrian, Sarmatian-Alan and Parthian cultures. Tracing a motif in this degree of detail provides specific information about artistic transmission between various peoples. Because these flowers are identified, it is possible to enhance the visual evidence with information from relevant texts, demonstrating
Peterson, Sara
Roses, poppies and narcissi : plant iconography at Tillya-tepe and connected cultures across the ancient world. The Tillya-tepe burial site was located in Bactria (Afghanistan) at a nodal point on major trade and communication routes between Rome and China, the northern steppes and India, in a period which represented a high point in trans-Eurasian connectivity. Six 1st century CE elite graves were excavated, producing thousands of objects whose admixture of artistic styles and motifs reflected Tillya-tepe's pivotal position between different cultures. Many of the gold artefacts, including jewellery, costume appliquĂ©s and even some weaponry, featured plant imagery. This research concerns the three most prolific floral motifs. Scholars generally refer to them as 'rosettes', but they represent real species: roses, poppies and narcissi, and are depicted in a manner derived from Graeco-Roman conventions. In this thesis these flowers are first studied on artefacts from Tillya-tepe, and then on objects from Hellenistic, Roman, Bactrian, Sarmatian-Alan and Parthian cultures. Tracing a motif in this degree of detail provides specific information about artistic transmission between various peoples. Because these flowers are identified, it is possible to enhance the visual evidence with information from relevant texts, demonstrating
plant iconography connect culture across ancient_world burial_site locate point major trade communication rout rome china northern steppe india period represent high point trans eurasian connectivity elite graf excavate produce thousand object whose artistic_style motifs reflect pivotal position different culture many gold artefact include jewellery costume even weaponry feature plant imagery concern prolific motif scholars generally refer represent real specie depict manner derive graeco_roman convention flower first study artefacts object hellenistic_roman culture tracing motif degree detail provide specific information artistic transmission various people flower identify_possible enhance visual evidence information relevant text demonstrate