Petra Mrvová

Following diploma thesis is focused on decorative motifs of Achaemenid small-scale art. Borders of the Achaemenid Empire stretched from the river Indus to Bulgaria and from Egypt to the Black sea. It was associated with dynasty of Persian kings, who ruled over the empire between 559 - 331 BC. During its existence a characteristic art with its own style and iconography was formed. The main aim of the thesis is to present iconographical analysis of decorative motives appearing in Achaemenid small-scale art. Due to the vast range of decorative motives thesis is focused only on motives of animals. The analysis is conducted on diverse spectrum of objects included in studied collection. It consists of 397 objects namely jewellery, plaques, bracteates, toreutics, coins, stamp and cylinder seals and their impressions, horse-harness strap dividers, weapons, scabbards and scabbard tips and small scale sculpture. These objects are decorated with total of 822 animal motives, which are sorted in...

Tématem této bakalářské práce je výzbroj a výstroj achajmenovských vojsk. Cílem je stručně představit a charakterizovat používaný oděv, zbroj a zbraně perské armády od doby vlády Kýra Velikého až po panování Dáreia III. Kodomana. Práce se okrajově dotýká také válečné taktiky Peršanů, není totiž možné představit výstroj a výzbroj bez popisu odpovídajícího způsobu použití. Pro zkoumání této problematiky využijeme dostupných historických děl řeckých autorů. Dále budeme sledovat vzhled zbraní a výstroje na uměleckých památkách jak vlastní perské provenience, tak skythské, která byla achajmenovským uměním značně ovlivněna, řecké, ke které je ovšem třeba přistupovat s opatrností, a v umění některých dalších asijských národů (Lýdové, Frýgové). Práce představuje systém rozdělení výzbroje a výstroje. Nejdůležitější je rozdělení výbavy podle pěchoty a jízdy. V obou oddílech se nejprve věnuje oděvům vojáků, přechází k defenzivním součástem výzbroje a následně k ofenzivním. Velkou změnu ve vývo...

At the turn of August and September 2017, the third season of the research in the oases of the Kugitang Pied‐ monts, South Uzbekistan, resumed the field survey of the three oases that had been researched in previous seasons (2015: Zarabag; 2016: Zarabag, Karabag, Kampyrtepa). The 2017 survey was conducted in the areas of the modern villages of Maydon and Goz. The following report presents new archaeological data gained from these two oases and their hinterlands. The methods used during the survey were the same as in the previous seasons. The evidence of settlement shows similar patterns and dynamics that were recognized in the other oases in the previous seasons.

The relicts of an abandoned village were discovered during an archaeological field survey in the autumn expedition of 2017. During the following season (2018) we focused on the detailed survey and documentation of the site. A systematic field survey was conducted there, which was based on the collection of finds that are visible on the surface. In the selected part of the site we recorded the visible relicts by total station, sorted and analysed them. We identified 22 linear features, 16 circular/square features and we marked 4 spots which show the area behind the features. Among the finds the Early Middle Age predominantly prevail, nevertheless, finds belonging to the Bronze Age, Late Kushan Period, High Middle Age, Late Middle Age, and Pre -Modern Period were also collected.

In its three field seasons between 2015 and 2017 the Czech ‐Uzbekistani archaeological mission has focused on the area of the eastern Kugitang piedmonts, especially the Paskhurt Valley (southern Uzbekistan) in order to examine its historical cultural development. As one of the simultaneous activities, excavations of various selected kurgans and kurgan ‐like features, which were newly detected in the area have been undertaken. Special attention was paid to the connection between kurgans and settlement sites nearby, particularly those of the Yaz I period (Early Iron Age Period, late 2nd millennium BC). Three kurgans of the Yaz I period have been uncovered, however their purpose was not identified with a sepulchral use, but rather with a ritual one. Besides the excavation of – in local terms – larger kurgans at the site of Kayrit 1, lesser simple stone structures were also excavated.

Monsters are one of the most mysterious and interesting feature of art. Every culture has its own legends and repertoire of mythical creatures, monsters and supernatural beasts. Those beings are incorporated into the visual representation of individual cultures. The art of the Achaemenid Empire is full of visual representations of mythical creatures of many shapes and forms. Winged bulls and ibexes, horned lions, griffins and beasts composed of various animals represent typical motives of Persian iconographical repertoire. Appearance of those beasts was influenced by Assyrian art, where the motives of demons are depicted especially on palace reliefs. Bodies of these beings consist of mixture of animals: lions, bulls and birds of prey. Achaemenid art is full of creatures, which bear anthropomorphic features. Winged sphinx with lion bodies or bulls with human heads, which is definitely inspired by Mesopotamian art, are examples of many representatives of this group of iconographical motives.