Die Anfänge der figuralen thrakischen Kunst in dem 5. Jahrhundert v. Chr.

Thracian art of the 5th century B. C. is comprehensively investigated on the basis of 128 art objects from 73 sites, coins from 50 hoards and isolated finds, and 83 breast-plates. Thracian tribes used coins to express their artistic and political identity. At the beginning, there was a horizon of rich tumuli in the upper Maritsa-Tundzha region with figurally decorated breast-plates and representations of horsemen as huntsmen or warriors, which reflects the sphere of control by the Odrysians and is distinct from a horizon with coin hoards. In northern Thrace a province of animal style emerged in the area of the Triballi, Getae, and Scythians and was characterised by belt buckles with lurking cats of prey. In southern Thrace, however, birds of prey and lion heads dominated the animal style. Anthropomorphic stone statues and King Scyles’ ring bear evidence of the Scythian elite. These motifs of art occurred in isolation or in scenic contexts representing complex myths and were mostly taken over into “Classical” Thracian art of the 4th century. In this process, the elements were intermixed so that the horseman was adopted along the lower Danube River and animal style sets of horse gear appeared in the south.