指輪印章ゆびわいんしょう

  • 紀元前5-紀元前2世紀
  • 金、ガーネット、黒曜石
解説(古代バクトリア遺宝展)

前5―前2世紀
金、ガーネット、黒曜石
a:高1.5 cm 幅2.4 cm b:高2.9 cm 幅3.2 cm c:高2.4 cm 幅2.9 cm
d:高1.5 cm 幅2.1 cm e:高1.4 cm 幅2.5 cm f:高1.3 cm 幅2.1 cm
g:高1.0 cm 幅2.0 cm h:高0.9 cm 幅1.7 cm i:高1.0 cm 幅2.0 cm
j:高1.3 cm 幅1.9 cm k:高0.8 cm 幅1.5 cm l:高1.0 cm 幅2.0 cm
m:高0.8 cm 幅2.1 cm n:高0.6 cm 幅1.8 cm o:高1.1 cm 幅2.3 cm
p:高1.0 cm 幅2.2 cm q:高1.1 cm 幅2.1 cm r:高0.9 cm 幅2.2 cm
s:高1.0 cm 幅2.0 cm
 aは金環に、左向きの婦人頭部を陰刻した楕円形のガーネットの印章が嵌められている。婦人は頭に王族の徴であるディアデムを着けている。 
 Bは金環に、左向きに側体歩で歩む馬を陰刻した楕円形の黒曜石の印章が嵌められている。
 Cは金環に、左向きに座る瘤牛を陰刻した楕円形の御影石の印章を嵌めている。牛は右前脚を前に伸ばしているが、この体勢の牛を含む偶蹄類の図像はイランの伝統的な意匠である。
 Dとeは金環に楕円形の面をとり、その表面に右手を挙げ右に歩む有翼の女性像を陰刻している。これは勝利の女神ニケの姿を表したものと思われ、どちらも透けるような袖のないキトンにベルトを締め、両手に腕輪を付けている。
 Fは金環に楕円形の面をつけ、その表面に裸形の右向きに立つ男性が冠をつけ、左手で山羊を御している。これはアポロの表現であると思われる。
 Gは金環に楕円形の面をつけ、その表面に顔を正面に向け体をやや右方に向ける裸形の男性が陰刻されている。男性は左手に棍棒、右手にライオンの毛皮と木の枝を持っている。これはヘラクレスを表したものと思われる。
 Hとiは金環に楕円形の面をとり、人物の横顔が陰刻されている。Hは男性で左向き、iは男性あるいは女性で右向きである。iは頂部に小球のついた頭飾と首飾を着けている。
 Jは金環の表面に、膝までの袖なしのキトンを着けベルトを締め、左を向く男性が線刻されている。その髪は逆立ち、右手を肘で曲げて先が三叉に分かれた枝を持っている。
 Kは金環に楕円形の面をとり、右向きで右手に杯(又は軟膏壺)を持つ女性が陰刻されている。
 Lは螺旋状に捻られた金環に紡錘形の面をつけ、跪いて弓を射る射手の姿を刻んでいる。
 Mとoは蛇腹意匠の金環に、mは紡錘形の面を、oは円形の面をつけ、mは体躯を右に向けた猫科の動物を、oは右を向く驢馬を陰刻している。
 Nは金環に円形の面をつけ、右を向く兎を陰刻している。
 Pは金環に紡錘形の面をつけ、右向きに疾駆する鹿を陰刻している。これは大変高度な出来栄えを見せており、前5世紀頃のものと考えられる。
 金環にqは菱形、rは楕円形、sは杯形をつけ、qは正面向きの猛禽、rは座せるライオンと三日月を陰刻しているが、sは何を意図したものか分からない。Sの杯形は金板の貼り合わせに図像を陰刻している。

Catalogue Entry

5th‐2nd century B.C.
Gold, garnet, obsidian
(a)H. 1.5 cm, W. 2.4 cm(b)H. 2.9 cm, W. 3.2 cm
cH. 2.4 cm, W. 2.9 cm(d)H. 1.5 cm, W. 2.1 cm
(e)H. 1.4 cm, W. 2.5 cm(f)H. 1.3 cm, W. 2.1 cm
(g)H. 1.0 cm, W. 2.0 cm(h)H. 0.9 cm, W. 1.7 cm
(i)H. 1.0 cm, W. 2.0 cm(j)H. 1.3 cm, W. 1.9 cm
(k)H. 0.8 cm, W. 1.5 cm(l)H. 1.0 cm, W. 2.0 cm
(m)H. 0.8 cm, W. 2.1 cm(n)H. 0.6 cm, W. 1.8 cm
(o)H. 1.1 cm, W. 2.3 cm(p)H. 1.0 cm, W. 2.2 cm
(q)H. 1.1 cm, W. 2.1 cmRH. 0.9 cm, W. 2.2 cm
(s)H. 1.0 cm, W. 2.0 cm
(a) A gold ring is inlaid with an oval garnet seal depicting a woman's head facing to the left, shown in intaglio carving. The woman wears a diadem on her head, indicating that she is from the royal family.
(b) A gold ring is inlaid with an oval obsidian seal carved in intaglio with a horse design, whose gait is that of pacer, shown facing to the left.
c A gold ring is inlaid with an oval piece of obsidian carved in intaglio with seated zebu facing left. The zebu has his right foreleg extended forward, and bulls and other cloven hoof animal images in this pose were a traditional design motif in Iran.
(d), (e) Gold rings have been fitted with oval surfaces which have been intaglio carved with a winged female figure walking to the right and with right hand raised. This is thought to be an image of the winged goddess of victory, Nike. Both figures wear sleeveless, seemingly translucent, belted chitons, and bracelets appear on both arms.
(f) A gold ring has been fitted with an oval surface carved in intaglio with an image of a nude, crowned, standing male facing to the right. His left hand is on a mountain goat. This is thought to be an image of the god Apollo.
(g) A gold ring has been fitted with an oval surface carved in intaglio with a nude standing male. His face looks out directly towards the viewer while his body is turned slightly to the right. The figure holds a club in his left hand and his right hand holds a lion skin and tree branch. This is thought to be an image of Hercules.
(h), (i) Gold rings have been fitted with oval surfaces which show intaglio rendering of a face in profile. Ring h shows a male figure facing to the left, while Ring I shows either a male or female facing to the right. The figure on Ring I has a headgear with a small ball on the top and wears a necklace.
(j) The surface of a gold band has been carved with a linear rendition of a man facing to the left and wearing a knee length sleeveless, belted chiton. His hair stands up, and his right arm has its elbow bent and is holding a branch with its end split into a trident form.
(k) The oval surface on a gold ring has been intaglio carved with an image of a woman facing to the right and holding a cup (or ointment jar) in her right hand.
(l) A gold ring has been twisted into a spiral shape and fitted with a spindle-shaped flat surface. An archer is shown on this surface, carved in intaglio and kneeling as he shoots an arrow.
(m), (o) Both rings are made of spiral-shaped twisted gold. Ring m has a spindle-shaped surface while Ring o has a round surface. Ring m shows an intaglio carved cat species animal with body facing to the right, while Ring o has an intaglio carved donkey facing to the right.
(n) A gold ring is fitted with a round surface which is intaglio carved with a rabbit facing to the right.
(p) A gold ring is fitted with a spindle-shaped surface which is intaglio carved with a deer running to the right. This is an extremely well-executed work and is thought to date from around the 5th century BC.
(q)-(s) Ring q is fitted with a lozenge-shaped surface, while Ring r is fitted with an oval surface. Each is intaglio carved with a bird of prey facing forward, a seated lion and a crescent moon. Ring s has a cup-shaped surface with an indecipherable image.