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Stone ‘Baba' (Woman)
Krasnodar Region
11th-12th centuries
Limestone
H 165 cm
Anthropomorphic stelae, known as ‘stone babas' in Russian, provide us
with very important information about the appearance and clothing of the
nomads of the south Russian steppes. This is a canonical work – a frontal
representation of the body with a traditional attribute, a goblet, in the
hands, with detailed indication of rich clothing and ornaments. Such
curious monuments were set up on a natural mound or the top of a barrow
and dedicated to ancestor-heroes. Various ritual feasts took place near
them.
This stele depicts a richly dressed woman of the local aristocracy. Her
costume consists of a headdress, trousers and a long kaftan embroidered
on the sleeves and along the hem. The feet are shod in low boots. Around
the neck are two torques, one twisted and one smoothly wrought, also a
necklace with diamond-shaped and trapezoidal pendants, and a square
medallion on a long chain. The round face with high cheek-bones and small
eyes set close together is carefully modelled. Characteristic of the
anthropomorphic stelae of this type is a static pose with the hands resting
in the lap, folded over a vessel which probably had some ritual function.
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