Szőllősy Csilla - Pokrovenszki Krisztián (szerk.): Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis - Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei. C. sorozat 45. (Székesfehérvár, 2017)
Tanulmányok/közlemények - Régészet - Keszi Tamás: A nagyrévi kultúra szimbolikus ábrázolásokkal díszített urnái Kiapostag - Dunai-dűlő lelőhelyről. Alternatív javaslat a Budapest - Pannonhalmi úti edény ábrázolásának értelmezésére
Tamás Kes%i: Cinerary urns from the Nagyrév Culture ornamented with symbolic representations found at the Kisapostag - Dunai-dűlő site to the Bactria—Margiana Archaeological Complex which has the same age as the Namazga V, also features a figure holding serpents (Fig. 14, No. 2).m The same group includes a number of stamp seals whose exact findspot is unknown, featuring winged creatures pardy with horns, and pardy with the head of a bird (Fig. 14, No. 3).128 129 On two stamp seals found at the Degirmentepe setdement, dated to the turn of the 5th and 4th millennium BC, the hands of the anthropomorphic figures hang as if they were snakes, or as if they were holding snake-like things in their hands.130 In two other impressions, the figure, according to Ufuk Esin, holds a lightning131 (Fig. 14, No. 4), and a bow132 (Fig. 14, No. 5) in his hand. Both representations can equally be interpreted as a human figure holding a serpent. The stamp seal impression shown in Fig. 14, No .4 bears a striking similarity to the stamp seal shown in Fig. 12, No. 7: on the impression found in Degirmentepe, the group of markings, similar to the Middle Eastern three-pronged lightning representations, in reality depicts the fingers of the hand. It is also remarkable that it depicts the ribs of the human figure, and the spine which splits the body into two symmetrical parts. Esin compares this seal stamp to the seal stamps and impressions found in Tepe Gawra, Strata XIII-XI.133 Another impression from Degirmentepe undoubtedly features snakes: the hornless human figure raises their arms high above their head, and starting from the hands, the two snakes are twisting towards the human figure’s feet (Fig. 14, No. 6).134 Hornless human figures holding snakes in their hands and water streams also appear on vessels. In the area of today’s Iran, a chlorite cup found in Khafaje and dated to the Early Dynastic Periods I-II, which was prepared after the transition in style occurred at the end of the ‘Susa C period and the beginning of the ‘Susa D’ period,135features both scenes jointly.136 A man holding snakes is standing (Fig. 14, 7), while another one holding streams of water is sitting on a stool, and they are surrounded by animals, a crescent moon and rosette designs. This joint representation may even indicate that water and serpent are symbols suitable to be used interchangeably, as it is assumed in the case of Celtic deities as well. The vessels, made in the ‘intercultural style’,137 and vessel fragments belonging to this group not only 128 SARIANIDI 1998, Cat. 29. 125 SARIANIDI 1998, Cat. 26. Additional items: SARIANIDI 1998, Cat. 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 912.4, 916.1. ш ESÍN 1985,257: 4,3-4. Obviously, as parallels of these, mentions AMIÉT 1961, fig. 146,148,149 and 151. Limbs ending in a snake and hands holding a serpent seem to be independent motifs, but the former also appears in vast areas: WINKELMANN 2014, 209-211. 131 ESÍN 1985, 257:4,2. 132 ESÍN 1985,257:4, 16. 133 ESIN 1985, 255. On this basis, the stamp seals may be up to 500 years younger than the age determined by Esin, see LLOYD 1984, Table V. 134 ÖZDOGAN 2014, Fig. 3.9.6c. 135 PORADA 1962, 28, 30. Expressed in absolute years, after 2700 BC: LLOYD 1984, 27: Table II. 136 It is dated to the Early Dynastic Periods I-II by FRANKFORT 1970, 39-41. It is dated to the Early Dynastic Period II by LLOYD 1984, 117-118, Fig. 71. Period I lasted ca. 2900-2750 BC: LLOYD 1984, 36, Table III. Timothy Potts dates the appearance of artefacts classified as ‘série ancienne’ to the Early Dynastic Periods II—III of Mesopotamia, or even earlier (POTTS 1994, 257) and considers their occurrence until the end of the 3,d millennium: POTTS 1994,261—262. For further information on the dating of this style to 2600—2000 BC by the author, see: ARUZ 2003a, 244—245. 13 An analysis of some of the motifs of this style, and a suggestion to link these motifs and anthropoid figures holding snakes to the Etana Epic: WINKELMANN 2005; 2014, 211-213. 34
