The Panther in a Ring
Who is the Stone Cat Hunting?
Scene with a panther in a ring. Ordakul/Olga Gumirova
Archeologists are no strangers to finding hidden images on petroglyph-covered slabs, especially when a thick patina may obscure them. Thus, they are particularly diligent when studying such objects. One such case is a rock from Ordakul in the Dauylbai Mountains of Jetisu. After meticulous examination and considerable effort, researchers were finally able to discern a faint graphic image: a panther curled into a ring.
Uncovering such a petroglyph is a stroke of great luck as this motif is relatively rare in rock art despite being quite common among the gold, bronze, bone, horn, and wood artifacts found in the burial grounds of the Sakas, Scythians, and Sarmatians.
Scene with a panther in a ring. Ordakul. Drawing/Olga Gumirova
The motif of a predator coiled into a ring was one of the most popular ones in the Scytho-Siberian world, appearing consistently from the eighth to the third centuries BCE. Artifacts featuring this image include numerous small plaques of about 2–6 cm in diameter, which were used as details for horse harnesses or decorative elements sewn onto clothing. Similar motifs were also commonly used to adorn weapons and bronze mirrors.
Most depictions follow a specific pattern: the animal's paws are parallel and its tail's tip touches its snout. This motif of a panther curled into a ring has been documented across a vast territory from the Black Sea region to Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
Scene with a panther in a ring. Ordakul. Fragment/Olga Gumirova
Perhaps the panther curled into a ring was etched onto the rock with the same intention as the plaques attached to horse gear or crafted to adorn mirrors and weapons—as a talisman against evil spirits. The teeth and claws of the mighty predator were meant to deter them from human paths.
The panther is barely visible on the rock, yet for several millennia, it has guarded the peace and prosperity of Jetisu.
