one of the 5000 year old female figurines in the National Museum of History
One of the best things we did during our first day in Ashgabat, was a visit to the National Museum, not only to put our forthcoming excursions to Turkmenistan’s ancient cities in perspective, but also to admire some of the most fabulous ancient artefacts.
We focus of the Gonur Depe collection, from 3000 BC, and on the Old Nisa selection, from the capital of the Parthian empire from 3rd C BC to 3rd C AD. The museum has an exquisite assortment of pots, statues and tools, very tastefully exhibited, with as one of the highlights a series of carefully carved ivory rhytons – drinking vessels from elephant tusks – used for Zoroastrian rituals and official occasions, from Old Nisa.
vase, bronze ageone of the pots from Gonur Depe, 3-2nd millenium BCvarious finds from Gonur Depe, the earliest archaeological site in Turkmenistan, 3rd C BCone of the pots in more detail, look at the simple decoration and remember: 5000 yrs ago!female figure, Gonur Depemale figure, Gonur Depeand another male figure, note the kneescopper pot, Old Nisa, perhaps 3rd C BCour guide in the museum, explaining the rhytonsseveral rhytons, ivory drinking vessels, Parthian, 2nd C AD, Old Nisaone of the rhytons in more detailand a further detail, of the intricately carved heada painted pot, detailing the life of a manand another side of the same pot
