Ahura

田邊勝美、ソグド美術における東西文化交流―獅子に乗るナナ女神の文化交流史的分析―、『東洋文化研究所紀要』第130冊、1996。
Katsumi Tanabe, "East and West in Sogdian Wall-Painting - Cultural Contacts in the Image of Nana on Lion", Bulletin of Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, no. 130, 1996

Abstract

From the Sogdian palace of Kalai-Kakhkakha in Shakhristan in the north-west Tajikistan was excavated a unique wall-painting depicting the goddess Nana (Nanā, Nanaia) riding a walking lion (fig. 2). The goddess Nana originated in Mesopotamia was syncretized with Innana=Ishtar. The image of Nana on lion follows Nana on lion depicted already on the Kushan gold cions. This Kushan image of Nana on lion is based iconographically on the Hellenistic and Roman images of Cybele/Rea on lion. The Nana on lion from Kalai-Kakhkakha (fig. 2) has four arms which reflects Indian iconographic influence (Hindu deities). The style of this wall-painting is almost Sasanian or Iranian and lacks tri-dimensional volume, except for the mane of the lion, drapery and head of the Moon god executed in Hellenistic or Kushan style (comparatively realistic and naturalistic).

These artistic features suggest that this painting shows the influences from Mediterranian, West-Asian and Indian arts. However, the right foot of Nana is put in a stirrup. The excavators and Russian scholars seem not to have recognized or did not pay much attention to the depiction of stirrup. It is quite strange that a stirrup is employed for lion-riding, because no image of Nana on lion examined by the present author except for this painting (fig. 2) has stirrup. The iron stirrup seems to have been invented either by Chinese or Northern Nomadic peoples in the fourth century at the latest. Then in the late seventh century it was transmitted to Sogdiana and quickly adopted by the Sogdians. In Sogdian painting a stirrup is depicted even on the body of elephant. These features are quite unique and seen only in Sogdian art (including Kloresmian silver bowl). The adoption of stirrup and its extensive employment in art is one of the major characteristics of Sogdian art and can be regarded as Chinese or Northern Nomadic inflence on Sogdian culture in the late seventh century. Without the introduction of stirrup from the East such a unique image of Nana on lion could not be realized in Sogdian art.


FIGURE 2. Mythological painting of an encounter of the goddess Nana, riding a lion, and Sun God in a chariot, 750-850 CE, Kalai Kachkacha I (Tajikistan), palace, room 4. (Image via here)