Four gold plaques were found in the burial of a Scythian king in the Azov Sea steppes region. They decorated a wooden bowl, which was laid to the burial chamber with many other objects. Scythians believed that all these objects were necessary for a dead in the afterlife.
The plaques have a rectangular form with bent upper edge. They were connected to the base with gold nails. Their surface is decorated with an embossed image of an eagle-headed gryphon, which stands with his front paw raised. Gryphon was one of the most favoured mythical characters of the ancient Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. He`s associated with both lower, terrestrial and upper, celestial worlds. He`s also known for the protection from evil forces. Such vessels were used for ritual purposes. They have been known since the Bronze Age.
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