The Western Caucasus : imported armour in the Hellenistic period
The region of the Western Caucasus comprises the territories along the north-eastern and eastern Black Sea coast - the Bosporan Kingdom, Colchis and the foothills and mountains of the Caucasus as they spread between the two states. The area was keenly affected by the ancient Greeks through colonization and trade from the 7th-6th centuries BC on. These connections have yielded a rich wealth in finds of Greek type, for example pottery, jewellery, and weaponry. The latter is particularly interesting, as it comprises a wealth of Greek style helmets and greaves. All Greek-style armour finds stem from burials, most of which can be dated to the 4th-2nd century BC. The Greek-style helmet and greave finds from the Western Caucasus are particularly important for the study of Greek armour as a whole, the bulk of which comes from votive contexts in Greece (Olympia). However, none of these finds can be dated later than the mid 5th century BC. The Western Caucasus, however, is home to the highest concentration of Greek-style armour finds (particularly helmets) in the Hellenistic period, and as such are extremely useful in expanding upon existent typologies - which end with the Classical period, as well as examining the
Chandrasekaran, Sujatha
Russia and Eurasia ; Archeology ; Black Sea archaeology ; Greek archeology
The Western Caucasus : imported armour in the Hellenistic period. The region of the Western Caucasus comprises the territories along the north-eastern and eastern Black Sea coast - the Bosporan Kingdom, Colchis and the foothills and mountains of the Caucasus as they spread between the two states. The area was keenly affected by the ancient Greeks through colonization and trade from the 7th-6th centuries BC on. These connections have yielded a rich wealth in finds of Greek type, for example pottery, jewellery, and weaponry. The latter is particularly interesting, as it comprises a wealth of Greek style helmets and greaves. All Greek-style armour finds stem from burials, most of which can be dated to the 4th-2nd century BC. The Greek-style helmet and greave finds from the Western Caucasus are particularly important for the study of Greek armour as a whole, the bulk of which comes from votive contexts in Greece (Olympia). However, none of these finds can be dated later than the mid 5th century BC. The Western Caucasus, however, is home to the highest concentration of Greek-style armour finds (particularly helmets) in the Hellenistic period, and as such are extremely useful in expanding upon existent typologies - which end with the Classical period, as well as examining the
western import armour hellenistic_period region western comprise territory along north_eastern eastern black_sea coast kingdom mountain spread state area keenly affect ancient_greeks colonization trade connection yield rich wealth find greek type example pottery jewellery weaponry latter particularly_interesting comprise wealth greek style greek style armour find stem burial date greek style helmet find western particularly_important study greek armour whole bulk come votive context greece however none find date western however home high concentration greek style armour find particularly helmet hellenistic_period extremely useful expand_upon existent typology end classical_period well examine