An Analytical Study on the Objects of the Oxus Treasure

This article tries to look at the Oxus treasure and to have a survey on this glorious ancient collection, typology of its objects and semiotics of its motifs. Our most important purposes in this article are; first, a survey on techniques of making and decorating and typology of the objects in the collection based on form, material and usage. Second, a survey on the semantic meanings of the motifs and patterns. Researchers believe these handmade artifacts to be native and territorial. In addition, they think that these artifacts had been formed with combination of Persian experiences with the art of adjacent cultures (e.g. Mesopotamia, Urartu, Egypt and India), and the art of immigrant tribes. We gathered the research data through a library and museum study. The surviving objects have at least 22 dissimilar types and usages including model chariots, figurines, stoppers for a flask, vessel handles, horse models, cloth ornaments, an aigrette, earrings, necklaces, pendants, armlets and bracelets, rings, votive plaques, a shield ornament, a sword sheath, a jug, bowls, a fish vessel, a strap fitting, coins, rods and seals. There are five types of artistic decorations and patterns on these handmade artifacts: human motifs (like men and women), animal motifs (like lion, goat, ram, eagle, fish, bull and horse), mythical motifs (like Egyptian god Bes, winged globe, gopat and shirdal), vegetational motifs (like lotus and barsom) and geometric motifs. Semiotic analysis of motifs reveals the ritual and courtier functions and Iranian origin of this treasure.