Abstract
For the fi rst time, 10 Cuman stone statues from the collection of the Stavropol State Museum-Reserve are being put into scientifi c circulation. Three-dimensional polygonal models were created for each statue. A new way of illustrating and studying an archaeological object allows seeing details that elude the eyes of the researcher and more fully describe the sculptures under study. The presented statues belong to the period from the 10th to the 13th century. They are 7 male and 3 female images of the Cuman world. Each of the sculptures represents the world of Cuman art, embodied in stone, most often in local sandstone or shell rock. This material is readily available in the Stavropol Upland and its environs. Basically, the fi gures are created using the bas-relief technique. Analyzing the samples of the Cuman sculpture, it is possible to restore the general appearance of the Cuman, as well as individual elements of the costume and weapons. Among the elements of the costume, not only outerwear is embodied in stone, but also jewelry (earrings, necklaces, chest, wrist) is shown in detail, as well as complex hats of women and various types of shoes. Women’s hairstyles are so complex and detailed that sometimes the need to show the braids braided in “horns” in combination with several boards laid on the forehead is more important than anatomical precision. In this case, the master shows the ears on the cheekbones. The way of wearing the ensemble of military vestments is of particular interest. The sculpture embodies an ideals of Cumanian warrior and female beauty. Some female fi gures have a special sophistication that appears in the stone image, despite the bulk of the fi gure itself.
Keywords
Middle Ages, Cuman stone statues, Ciscaucasia, Stavropol Territory, threedimensional polygonal models, virtual lapidarium.
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