We have attempted to do this and are recently now aware of such interpretation relating to the Altai. Are there others? I thought it possible in the American Southwest rock art and saw reference to a discussion there as well. Any other areas? How did you make this connection? On what have you based your arguments?
Dear Alan Philip Garfinkel,
I found your question and I am very interested in this topic, too.
I am a Swiss prehistorian and my main research interest is the Upper Palaeolithic Ice age Art, but also rock art worldwide.
In 2002, I wrote my Master thesis on the anthromorphic composite beings in the Upper Palaeolithic cave art in France and interdisciplinary interpretations. For understanding prehistoric rock art, I think an interdisciplinary attempt is very necessary. I used for my research also Ethnolgy, Mythology etc.
One interpretation on the anthropomorphic composite beings is the Master of Animals in the European Upper Palaeolithic cave art concerning the figure of the "Dieu cornu" (Horned God) in the Les Trois-Frères cave.
You will find my papers on my Researchgate profile and also on my personal webside:
www.palaeolithikum.com
This webside is at the moment only in German, but I am working on a English and French version.
It would be very interesting to share further ideas with you in detail on this subject.
I am looking forward to your answer,
with best regards,
Ingmar M. Braun (www.palaeolithikum.com)
Dear Alan,
not in rock art, but concerning Scythian toreutics (in Russian) - the interpretation of possible semantics of Animal Mistress images:
www.academia.edu/12623396/Золотое_лекало_судьбы_пектораль_из_Толстой_Могилы_и_проблема_интерпретации_скифского_звериного_стиля_
Hi in the Colombian Vaupes there is a mythological figure named The owner of animals Who is Represented in Rock art.
Thank you all for your information. Very interesting to see that worldwide there is a similar concept applied cross-culturally. What do you make of this? Why should such a figure re-occur so frequently and what does that imply?
Some time ago I tried to argue that the figures of the kind might mark some border/transitional point where different modes of behaviour switch from one to another. Thus, say, symmetry in the figure of Animal Mistress in Scythian (as well as Greek etc) art with her hands spread apart and holding two minor figures. And - the scenes of the same symmetrical (frontal) figure as giving birth or with the accent at her privates
Vadim very interesting... Are you aware of the Maringer article on the hands up ado rant posture. I wasn't until very recently. Fascintating study.
Dear all,
in my profile you will find an article (Thoughts on Ice Age art) which was recently published. There also I wrote about the Master of Animals.
I wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I am looking forward to following this discussion.
With my best wishes,
Ingmar
Ingmar,
Thanks for the information. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Best and many blessings,
Also a happy solstice and tree of life and sol invictus and birth feast of Jesus and Mithras ... ? and then New Year to everybody.
Relating to the master/Mistress of the animals there are also phenomena like above which seem to be switching from one culture to another and when used i also favour Vadims idea of indicating a transitional Point. So the Mohenjo-daro culture seal about 5.000 years ago is adding the sitting Position af a yogi to the presentation of him (?) crowned and surrounded by animals.
Dear Alan, no I don't know the article. Is it possible to find it in open access? Russia is a wrong place for libraries :)
I have done ethnographic research on oral traditions and rock art in the NW Amazon. My research is on my page in Research Gate, and internationalacademia.edu
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