ICONOGRAPHY OF THE FOUR-ARMED DEITY ON EARLY MEDIEVAL KHWAREZMIAN SILVER VESSELS

Abstract

The article examines mythological depictions on silver vessels from early medieval Khwarezm. During the 6th–8th centuries, a unique local school of artistic craftsmanship developed in Khwarezm. The imagery on silver vessels from this period contains rich historical information about the mythology, pantheon of gods, and spiritual world of pre-Islamic Khwarezm. Such motifs as the four-armed goddess, lion or leopard, as well as symbols of the sun and crescent moon, are characteristic features of the mythology and artistic style of the Afrighid era in Khwarezm. They help to understand the religious beliefs and artistic traditions of the region, as well as its interaction with other cultures.