Journey of the Golden Man
A travelling exhibition from Kazakhstan sheds light on the horse-riding nomads of the eurasian steppe.
THERE is a Golden Man standing in one of the rooms at Muzium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, and with him are treasures from a land far away. If only he could speak; he would be able to tell wonderful stories of the rise and fall of empires, and of what life was like in the Eurasian Steppe where he lived.
Pride and joy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Golden Man – or Altyn Adam in Kazakh – is a warrior’s costume from the 5th or 4th century BC that was discovered by Kazakh archaeologist Kemal Akishev during an excavation in 1969. This was at a site called the Issyk burial, located some 60km from the former capital Almaty.
Believed to be a warrior or a nobleman who died in battle when he was 17 or 18, he was buried in a golden suit of armour, complete with boots and headgear measuring some 70cm in height, with a sizeable hoard of gold – hence the moniker, the Golden Man.
Now you can see a reconstruction of the Golden Man in The Great Steppe: History and Culture – The Procession Of The Golden Man To The World Museums at Muzium Negara.
“There is a long and rich history embedded in the clothing and other artefacts found buried with our ancestors. The Scythians produced gold, were skilled craftsmen and many gold objects have been found buried with them.
“For instance, the Golden Man’s garment is adorned with gold pieces, many of them finely worked with animal motifs, and with each one carrying its own philosophical meaning. We like to say that we are able to feel the entire history of the nomadic steppe culture encapsulated in this golden warrior,” says Arystanbek Mukhamediuly, director of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Although the Golden Man was found to not be genetically related to modern Kazakhs, he – and some experts argue, possibly a she – has become a symbol of Kazakhstan’s national heritage. Referred to as the “Tutankhamun of Kazakhstan”, it is considered the most significant archaeological discovery in the country to date.
Inspired by this find, a Golden Warrior Monument was erected at the Republic Square in Almaty and replicas of the Golden Man can be found in museums all over Kazakhstan.
Replicas also tour the world in The Great Steppe: History And Culture, giving nations far and wide a glimpse into the rich culture of those times.
No doubt, the Golden Man is the main draw at the exhibition, but it also showcases a Golden Woman, an ancient Scythian princess who was buried in the Terekty district of Western Kazakhstan alongside gold and silver vessels, jewellery, a horse bridle and household items.
The show features around 200 other objects, ranging from elaborate pieces to kitchenware and weapons, and horse trappings.
Many objects here are crafted in the Scythian-siberian “animal style”, so expect to see intricate carvings of animals in a variety of poses.
Also on display at the museum are traditional women’s clothing from the 600BC and 500BC, found in Western Kazakhstan in 2012.
And don’t miss the eye-catching reconstruction of a yurt’s interior, the traditional dwelling of the Kazakhs, with its richly-ornamented furniture, storage solutions and equipment.
The Great Steppe: History And Culture has toured several countries in the past two years, including Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, France, Japan, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Malaysia is its only stop in South-east Asia so far.
Mukhamediuly, who was in KL for the official launch of the exhibition earlier this month says, “Through this exhibition, we want to introduce the whole world to the culture of the Scythians. We want to show how they were such an innovative people, they used techniques and technology that we are still trying to figure out how to recreate.”
The nomads of the Eurasian Steppe were a bow-wielding, horse-riding people, who by most accounts were portrayed as fierce and brutal warriors. When engaged at war, most of the adult population, including a large number of women, would participated in battle.
Archaeological findings and research indicate that they were culturally advanced and had mastered metal casting and finishing techniques. Gold, above all others, seemed to be a dominant funerary and burial staple.
The Golden Man, for instance, was believed to be a prince and was buried with thousands of gold objects. Permafrost preserved his corpse and grave treasures, giving us an insight into the traditions of those times.
The discovery of burial sites with female warriors on the Eurasian Steppe also suggest that Scythian women may have inspired the Greek mythology of the Amazons, a tribe of women warriors.
These were a nomadic tribe who domesticated horses, and were often buried with them – sometimes even hundreds of horses. They were among the earliest people to master the art of horsemanship, pioneered sophisticated saddles and were revered and feared for their prowess in war.
It is said that they inspired the Greek myth of the centaur, a half-horse, half-human creature. A selection of equestrian equipment and accessories are displayed at the museum.
The Great Steppe: History And Culture – The Procession Of The Golden Man To The World Museums is on at the Muzium Negara, Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur till Oct 31. Opening hours: 9am-6pm daily. Visit: www. muziumnegara.gov.my.