The Heavenly Stag

This Scythian piece represents an ancient Bulgar legend (as reported by the Byzantine historian, Procopius) of a heavenly stag that separated the twin sons of a Hunnish Khan (possibly Kana Subigi Ernak or Dengizik) while he was hunting it. The twin sons were named, Kutrigur and Uturgur, which inspired the beginnings of the Kutriguri and the Utiguri. The legend is ubiquitous throughout the steppe areas and is known in many nomadic horsemen cultures. There is a poem which translates from this time about the stag:

1. Wondrous headed doe, with horns of a thousand branches and knobs
2. Thousand branches and knobs and of a thousand bright candles
3. Amongst its horns it carries the light of the blessed sun
4. On it's forehead there is a star, on it's chest the moon
5. And it starts along the banks of the shining heavenly Danube
6. That it may be the messenger of heaven and bringer of news
7. About our creator and caring god.

Such a creature as this stag above was believed to be an ongun or venerated spirit of the Bulgar people, especially in light of its connections to Tangra (the God of the Bulgars). Ongunar were believed to portray not only different facets of divinity, but also were used to teach people something about themselves (about their humanity).

all images © The Hermitage Museum, St.Petersburg, Russia; http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/