There are many versions of the appearance of ancient female temporal jewelry. According to one of them, the most ancient female head adornments were flowers. Wreaths were woven of them, woven into braids. After getting married, a Slavic woman tucked her hair under her headdress. As an imitation of flowers, jewelry worn around the ear appeared. Apparently, these jewelry had the ancient name "zeeryaz" (from the word ear), although it was best known for its cabinet name - "temporal rings".
According to their external and technological characteristics, the temporal rings are divided into groups: wire, bead, in which a subgroup of pseudobasis, scutellum, radial and lobe is distinguished.
Wire temple rings
The size and shape of the wire rings serve as a sign for distinguishing the sections in them: ring-shaped, bracelet-shaped, medium-sized rings and curly ones. Among the first three sections there is a division into types: closed (with welded ends), knotted (options: with one end and two ends), simple unclosed (Fig. 1); with overhanging ends (options: cruciform, in one and a half - two turns (Fig. 2), with an inflection; bent-end; S-end (Fig. 3); flat-ear; hook-end; loop-end; socketed.
The smallest of the wire ring-like ones were either sewn onto the headdress or woven into the hair. They were widespread in the X-XIII centuries. throughout the Slavic world and cannot serve as either an ethnic or a chronological sign. However, one and a half turn closed wire rings are characteristic of the southwestern group of Slavic tribes [8].
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Buzhany (Volynians), Drevlyans, Polyana, Dregovichi
They are characterized by wire ring-shaped temporal rings with a diameter of 1 to 4 cm. The most common are rings with unclosed and overlapping ends and, as a variety of the latter, one and a half turn rings. Much less often come across bent-end and S-end rings, as well as polychrome, single-beaded and three-beaded grained rings.
Northerners
An ethnographic feature of the northerners is the wire figured spiral rings of the XI-XII centuries (Fig. 4). Women wore them two or four on each side [8]. This type of rings originated from the spral temporal ornaments that were common on the left bank of the Dnieper in the 6th-7th centuries (Fig. 5).
Wire temporal rings of the Northern Slavs.
The legacy of earlier cultures can be attributed to the false-grained cast temporal rings of the VIII-XIII centuries found on the monuments of the northerners (Fig. 6). They are late copies of expensive jewelry. Rings XI-XIII centuries are characterized by carelessness of manufacture [2].
Smolensk-Polotsk Krivichi
The Smolensk-Polotsk Krivichi had bracelet-shaped wire temple rings. They were attached with leather straps to a head-dress made of birch bark or fabric, from two to six at each temple [8]. Basically, these were rings with two tied ends (XI - early XII centuries) and one knotted end (XII-XIII centuries) [2]. In the upper reaches of the Istra and Klyazma rivers, a significant percentage of the occurrence of S-terminal rings (X-XII centuries) has been revealed, while in other regions they are rather rare (Fig. 7).
Beam false-grained cast temporal ring of the VIII-XIII centuries, (Fig. 6) / Bracelet-like wire temporal ring, (Fig. 7).
Pskov Krivichi
On this territory there are bracelet-shaped wire temporal rings with overhanging ends, cruciform and curved. Sometimes bells with a cruciform slit (X-XI centuries) or trapezoidal (sometimes subtriangular) pendants with a circular ornament were hung on chains on chains (Fig. 8).
Trapezoidal pendant with circular ornament, (Fig. 8) / Earring in the form of an inverted question mark, (Fig. 9).
The Novgorodian Slovenes are characterized by cute temporal rings. The earliest type is a ring 9-11 cm in diameter with clearly cut rhombic shields, inside which a cross in a rhombus was depicted in dotted lines. The end of the cross was decorated with three circles. Both ends of the ring were tied or one of them ended with a shield. This type is called the classic rhomboid shield [8]. It existed in the XI - the first half of the XII centuries. For the end of the XI-XII centuries. the pattern of a cross in a rhombus and four circles on the field is characteristic. Over time, the shields become smoothed, and then oval. In the ornament, the cross is replaced by circles or bulges. The size of the rings is also reduced. Typical for the end of the XII-XIII centuries. are the socket-end rings, ornamented with bulges or longitudinal ribs [2]. The way of wearing these rings is similar to the wire bracelet rings.
In the XIII-XV centuries. among Novgorod Slovenes, earrings in the form of an inverted question mark are widespread [8, 9], (Fig. 9).
Analyzing the symbolism of these types of temporal rings B. A. Rybakov [7] writes: “The temporal rings of the Dregovichs, Krivichs and Slovens of Novgorod had a round ring-shaped shape, which allows us to speak of solar symbolism. In Slovenia, a large wire ring was flattened in 3-4 places into rhombic shields, on which a cruciform figure or a square "ideogram of a cornfield" was engraved. In this case, the solar symbol - the circle - was combined with the symbol of earthly fertility."
Vyatichi and Radimichi
Lobe and beam rings.
Radial temporal ring of the VIII-X centuries, (Fig. 10) / Semilopastny temporal rings of the XI-XIII centuries, (Fig. 11-12).
The earliest ray rings (Fig. 10) belong to the Romny and Borshevsk cultures of the VIII-X centuries. [8]. Samples of the XI-XIII centuries. are distinguished by rough dressing [2]. The existence of the oldest type of seven-lobed rings dates back to the 11th century (Fig. 11).
In his work T. V. Ravdina [4] notes that "the oldest seven-lobed temporal rings are located, with one exception, outside the range of the classic seven-lobed rings." The same work also says that “a gradual chronological and morphological transition from the most ancient seven-bladed XI century. to the seven-bladed Moskvoretsky XII-XIII centuries. not". However, the findings of recent decades show that this is not entirely true. For example, several of the earliest seven-bladed rings have been found in the Zvenigorod district of the Moscow region [10]. According to the reliable data available to me, fragments of this type of rings are often found along with fragments, as archaeologists call it, of the first type of a simple seven-blade ring (Fig. 12), in a field near the former (almost completely destroyed by landslides into the river) Duna settlement (Tula region., Suvorovsky district).
Semilobaste temporal rings of the XI - XII centuries, (Fig. 13-14).
According to archaeologists, this type existed at the turn of the XI-XII centuries, and therefore, despite the absence of a transitional form, it could be the next stage in the development of the seven-bladed ring [6]. This type is characterized by small size, drop-shaped, rounded blades and the absence of lateral rings. In the first half of the XII century. lateral rings appear on the rings, a shaded ornament extending over each lobe with sharp tips, an ax-shaped lobe, (Fig. 13).
In the middle of the century, there were many transitional variants of seven-bladed rings. For example, there are rings: with lateral rings and teardrop-shaped blades; with ornament and drop-shaped blades; with ax-shaped blades, but with an ornament that does not fit on them, etc. The late rings are characterized by the presence of all three features (Fig. 14).
The development of the seven-bladed ring in the second half of the XII-XIII centuries. follows the path of increasing sizes, as well as complicating patterns and ornaments. There are several types of complex rings of the late XII - early XIII centuries, but all of them are quite rare. The number of blades can also be three or five, (Fig. 15), but their number does not affect either typology or chronology. '
It is impossible not to ignore one discrepancy noted by T. V. Ravdina [5]. The fact is that the area where the largest number of late seven-bladed rings was found, namely the Moscow region, was not Vyatics according to the chronicles. On the contrary, the chronicle Vyatka upper reaches of the Oka are characterized by a small number of finds of this type of rings. Hence a legitimate question arises: is it legitimate to consider the late seven-bladed rings an attribute of the Vyatichi tribe?
Five-bladed small temporal ring of the Vyatichi XII-XIII centuries, (Fig. 15) / Seven-lobed temporal ring of the Radimichi XI-XII centuries, (Fig. 15).
It should be noted that the oldest type of seven-lobed rings is also often found on the land of the Radimichi and it is defined as the prototype of the seven-rayed rings (Fig. 16), XI-XII centuries. [4]. Noticing this fact, B. A. Rybakov [7] concludes that this “type, obviously, by the Volga-Don route to the land of Vyatichi and Radimichi, was well received by the local population and existed, changing, until the 13th century, giving rise to the Radimichi seven-rayed temporal rings of the 10th-11th centuries … and Vyatichny seven-bladed XII century, who survived to the Tatar invasion. At the base of it is a ring, in the lower part of which several teeth protrude inward, and outward - longer triangular rays, often decorated with grains. The connection with the sun is felt even in their scientific name - "seven-rayed". For the first time, rings of this type that came to the Eastern Slavs were not anyone's tribal sign,but over time they were entrenched in the Radimich-Vyatics lands and became in the X-XI centuries. such a sign of these tribes. They wore seven-rayed rings on a vertical ribbon sewn to the headdress. " Such sets of ornaments are called ribbon [1].
Urban decorations
Decorations with bead temporal rings also belong to the ribbon. The beads mounted on the ring were fixed from movements by winding with a thin wire. This winding also created the spacing between the rings.
Bead temple rings of the ancient Slavs.
Bead temporal rings have varieties [6]: smooth, have options: rings with beads of the same size, X - early. XIII centuries, (Fig. 17), and rings with beads of different sizes, XI - XIV centuries; spoon XI-XII centuries; smooth with filigree, (fig. 18); fine-grained (fig. 19); coarse-grained XII-XIII centuries; openwork filigree (fig. 20); grain-filigree XII century, (Fig. 21); nodular XI century, (Fig. 22); combined, (fig. 23); polychrome X-XI centuries, with a bead made of paste, glass, amber or stone.
Beaded temple rings in a ribbon headdress. Zhilina N. V. Russian jewelry piece, Rodina №11-12, M., 2001.
The temporal rings with complex-shaped beads decorated with filigree should be distinguished separately (Fig. 24). This type, called Kievsky, was widespread in the XII-first half of the XIII century. in the principalities located on the territory of modern Ukraine.
Star-shaped kolts in a headdress. Zhilina N. V. Russian jewelry piece, Rodina №11-12, M., 2001.
In rural areas, except for the Suzdal opolye, bead rings are not common, but they were widespread among wealthy city dwellers. Ribbons with a set of three-bead rings were usually completed with a bunch of two or three similar rings or weighted with a beautiful pendant (Fig. 25).
From the first half of the XII century. such a pendant became a star-shaped kolt [5] with a wide bow and a flattened upper beam (Fig. 26). In the second half of the century, instead of the upper ray, a lunar part with a narrow bow appears.
Lunar gold kolts in the headdress. Zhilina N. V. Russian jewelry piece, Rodina №11-12, M., 2001.
Over time, the size of the kolts decreases. Scanned-grained ray kolts were true masterpieces of ancient Russian jewelry art. The lunar hollow kolts, made of gold and decorated with enamel designs on both sides, were the decoration of the highest nobility (Fig. 27, 28).
Blown silver kolt with niello, (fig. 29). / Copper kolts, (fig. 30-32).
There were similar kolts made of silver (Fig. 29). They were adorned with niello. Favorite motifs were images of mermaids (Sirins) on one side and turkey horns with stylized seeds on the other. Similar images can be found on other decorations described in the article by Vasily Korshun "Old Russian pendants and amulets of the 11th-13th centuries." According to B. A. Rybakov, such drawings were symbols of fertility [7]. Lunar kolts were usually worn on a chain attached to the headdress in the temple area.
In the second half of the XII century. hollow enamel lunar kolts made of copper began to appear. They were decorated with gilding and enamel designs. The plots of the drawings were similar to those on their "noble" counterparts. Copper kolts, of course, were much cheaper than precious metal kolts, and became more widespread (Fig. 30-32).
Kolts from tin-lead alloys, (Fig. 33, 34).
Kolts made of tin-lead alloys cast in rigid imitation casting molds were even cheaper (Fig. 33, 34), which existed until the XIV century. [nine]. This is how the era of temporal decorations of pre-Mongol Russia ended with single, late, cheap overflows, reminiscent of drops of tears over the lost ancient jewelry art. The Mongol-Tatar invasion dealt an irreparable blow to both the prevailing techniques and traditions. It took more than one decade to recover from it.
Author: Vasily Korshun
LITERATURE:
1. Zhilina N. V. "Russian jewelry piece", Rodina No. 11-12, M., 2001.
2. Levasheva V. P. "Temple rings, Essays on the history of the Russian village X-XIII centuries", M., 1967.
3. Nedoshivina N. G. “On the question of the genetic relationship between the Radimich and Vyatichi temporal rings”, Proceedings of the State Historical Museum. V. 51. M. 1980.
4. Ravdina T. V. "The oldest seven-lobed temporal rings", 1975. SA Number 3.
5. Ravdina T. V. "Seven-bladed temporal rings", Problems of Soviet archeology. 1978, M.
6. Ravdina T. V. "Typology and chronology of lobed temporal rings", Slavs and Rus, M., 1968.
7. Rybakov B. A. "Paganism of Ancient Rus", M., 1988.
8. Sedov V. V. "Eastern Slavs in the VI-XIII centuries", Archeology of the USSR, M., 1982.
9. Sedova M. V. "Jewelry of Ancient Novgorod (X-XV centuries)", M., 1981.
10. Stanyukovich A. K. et al., Works of the Zvenigorod Expedition, JSC 1999, M., 2001.
11. “Jewelry made of precious metals, alloys, glass, Ancient Russia. Life and culture , Archeology of the USSR, M., 1997.
12. Korshun V. E. “Dear old fellow. Finding the Lost”, M., 2008.