Жезлы и треножники с зооморфными навершиями у кочевников Северного Предкавказья II в. до н. э. – III в. н. э.: вариант интерпретации

Вестник древней истории. 2025. Т. 85. № 4. С. 1016–1037.

Bodrova M.

This article discusses the interpretation of wands and tripods found in nomadic burial and ritual complexes from the Trans-Kuban region, dating from the second century BC to the third century AD. A comprehensive catalog of these finds has been compiled. The focus is on their structural features, which may indicate their use as portable altars associated with fire. Analogies are drawn from the so-called ‘fire altars’ of the Tagar culture in Siberia, as well as information on cultic practices of Iranian peoples recorded in written sources and ethnographic data. Additionally, depictions of staff-like objects are examined on Kushan numismatic material from the second century AD and on a stone slab from the Chrysalis estate in the first century AD on the Taman Peninsula.

Keywords: кочевники, Kuban region, Прикубанье, сарматская эпоха, Ancient nomads in Eurasia, kurgans, курганы, Fire altars, ‘Golden Cemetery’ burial grounds, Sarmatian period, Tripods, Wands, Zubov-Vozdvizhenskaya group, зубовско-воздвиженская группа, жезлы, треножники, алтари огня