The image of chariot and charioteer in the ritual practice of the population of the Eurasian steppes in the Bronze Age: the experience of reconstructing the ritual and beliefs

In the Bronze Age in the Eurasian steppes there were several cultural and historical communities (Yamna, Catacomb, Srubna, and Andronovo) at different times, in the burials of which the remains of the carts, chariots and their parts were recorded. Many researchers connect these cultural formations with the Indo-Iranians. The burials of Sintashta culture are of greatest interest where the remains of two-wheeled carts with two horses were found, which the researchers of the burial ground define as battle chariots. The location of the chariot remains and horse skeletons in the Sintashta complexes has its own peculiarities. There are two clearly visible levels of disposition of the finds in the burial pit - at the bottom of the grave and on the covering. The chariot complex in its most complete form is represented at the bottom of the 30th Sintashta big burial ground. In one half at the bottom of the grave there were two fixed parallel grooves for the wheels, probably from the disassembled chariot, in the other half - two sets of skulls and leg bones of horses were placed in a specific order, in one of which cheek-pieces were found. Close to it there were human bones buried separated from tissues and laid in a compact cluster. Besides, a bronze dagger, a spear-head, the remains of a quiver with flint arrow-heads as well as a vessel with two big stones next to it were placed in the grave. Such complexes consisting of separated parts and composed in a certain order of chariots, charioteers and horses were probably the evidence of death as a sacrifice, similar to the Vedic rituals of ashvamedha and purushamedha. These rituals were aimed at the renewal of the world, revival or creation of a new life. There was another ritual, the traces of which can be seen on the covering of the grave. The sacrificial complexes consisting of 1-3 pairs of the whole horse skeletons are presented here. Based on the texts of Rigveda and the 23rd song of The Iliad, one can assume that these complexes were associated with the chariot competitions at the funerals. Such competitions were probably one of the characteristics of the Indo-Iranian burial rite. The finds of items in the graves of warriors-charioteers associated with the cult of Soma (vessel, spinning stones) let us suppose that the use of such a ritual drink as Soma by the participants of the events played an important role in the victory. The victory in competitions was dedicated to the gods, so the winning horses could be a sacrifice. In return, as a gift of the gods they expected the restoration of the cosmic order violated by the invasion of chaos and death.

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