In 1971 in the burial mound Tovsta Mohyla, Dnipro region, they found a legendary "Golden pectoral" – a tsar jewellery depicting scenes from the life of the Scythians.
This unbelievably beautiful pectoral is kept in the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, which is better known as the Museum of Scythian gold and is the branch of National Museum of History of Ukraine. The museum is located on the territory of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. The main gem of the collection, Scythian pectoral, can be found on the second floor.
Scythian Golden pectoral is considered to be the biggest archeological find in the 20th century and a masterpiece of World Art. Its approximate cost is $20 million although some estimate it much higher.
It was found by an archeologist B. Mozolevskyi in 1971 in the Scythian tomb of the tsar in the burial mound Tovsta Mohyla, located near the city of Ordzhonikidze (Dnipro region, Ukraine). Pectoral as such is a women's jewellery. It weighs 1.2 kg, made of pure gold alloy of 985 fineness and depicts about 100 artistically crafted characters. Its diameter is 30.6 cm.
It was made in about 5th century BC. This relic passed through the hundreds of owners during its existence. It was the reason for treason, robbery and murders.
This pectoral is very similar to the Scythian pectoral found in the burial mound Kul-Oba near the city of Kerch. Nowadays this relic haunts the minds of both researchers and humble people. Recently there has been a thought within scientific community that this pectoral is nothing else but a ciphered message from Scythians.
Furthermore, in Kyiv there is a theater award named "Kyiv pectoral" which was initiated by Kyiv branch of the National Union of Theater Workers of Ukraine in 1992 with support of Kyiv Regional State Administration, the Department of Culture.
The award is given annually on the eve of the World Theater Day (27th March) to recognize the most prominent actors. For the first time "Kyiv pectoral" was awarded on the 27th March, 1993.
We decided to dedicate the eleventh sculpture of the project "Shukai!" to the pectoral.
You can name it a Scythian pectoral in tribute to the found jewellery, or perhaps Kyiv pectoral in honor of the theater award or just because it is kept in Kyiv museum.
We reproduced this incredible relic almost in its original size and look.
The partner of the sculpture is a
Jewellery House OBERIG.