On 14 February 2008 the Treasures of the Sarmatians exhibition was opened at the Arab Hall of the Winter Palace. The exhibition is a joint venture between the State Hermitage Museum and the Azov Museum of History, Archaeology and Paleontology.

The display includes samples of ancient art originating from famous burial sites found in the Lower Don region, in particular the burial mounds of Khokhlach (located in the vicinity of Novocherkassk and excavated in 1864) and Dachi (discovered in 1986 near Azov). Even in ancient times grave-robber plundered both burial complexes, however, failed to discover the hidden recesses where the kinsmen of the deceased carefully placed the most valuable offerings. Among them are pieces not just remarkable but unique. One of the doubtless masterpieces is the diadem originating from the Khokhlach mound. Its upper edge is decorated with a figurative frieze representing a ritual scene of sacrificial animals (deer and mountain goats) approaching the Tree of Life. Equally noteworthy is the golden sheathed dagger from the Dachi sepulchral complex. Among other original works of Sarmatian art are neck torques (grivnas), bracelets and flasks decorated with images of animals and fantastical creatures which were found during excavation of the Khokhlach mound.
Among offerings found in the tombs of Sarmatian noblemen is metal tableware of Roman and Mediterranean origin. Occasionally its articles form complete sets like the two displayed at the exhibition. The most remarkable artifact is the unique silver vessel decorated with zoomorphic motifs and a ritual inscription that is a lection from the Avesta (ancient scripture of the Iranian nations).
Sarmatian culture flourished at the dawn of the first century AD, especially after the Alan tribes came to inhabit the Lower Don region. The most well-known local burial sites date to this period.
The 2nd - 4th centuries AD were highlighted by a decline in Sarmatian civilization. Objects found in excavated burial mounds include mainly golden items of jewellery in the Graeco-Roman style: ornamental pendants, earrings, necklaces, perfume flasks decorated with coloured glass, garnet and sard in brazed-on bezels.
The display is crowned with decorated horse harnesses dating from the late 3rd to early 4th century AD and previously untypical of the area around the Northern Black Sea littoral. They are lavishly adorned with major implantations of sard, as well as embossed geometrical ornament of circles and crosses, filigree and false granulation.
The Sarmatian epoch came to an end with the arrival of bellicose tribes of Turk and Mongol origin in the region. According to the sources available in 370s AD the Sarmatians were defeated by the Huns. Some of the Sarmatian tribes chose to join the invaders and very soon lost their original identity.

The exhibition curator is I.P.Zasetskaya, a senior researcher at the Department of Archaeology of Eastern Europe and Siberia of the State Hermitage Museum. An illustrated catalogue has been specially prepared for the exhibition by the State Hermitage Publishing House edited by Dr. I.P.Zasetskaya.

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M.B.Piotrovsky,
director of the State Hermitage,
I.P.Zasetskaya,
the exhibition curator and A.A.Gorbenko,
director of the Azov Museum of History, Archaeology and Paleontology

At the exhibition

The exhibition catalogue

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