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 age
one of the pots from Gonur Depe, 3-2nd millenium BC
various finds from Gonur Depe, the earliest archaeological site in Turkmenistan, 3rd C BC
one of the pots in more detail, look at the simple decoration and remember: 5000 yrs ago!
female figure, Gonur Depe
male figure, Gonur Depe
and another male figure, note the knees
copper pot, Old Nisa, perhaps 3rd C BC
our guide in the museum, explaining the rhytons
several rhytons, ivory drinking vessels, Parthian, 2nd C AD, Old Nisa
one of the rhytons in more detail
and a further detail, of the intricately carved head
a painted pot, detailing the life of a man
and another side of the same pot
