Кістень у Галицькому та Волинському князівствах (X–XIV ст.)

Abstract

Проаналізовано тапологічні особливості ударної зброї X–XVI ст. – кістенів, знайдених на землях Волинського та Галицького князівств. Обгрунтовується висновок про місцеві особливості видовго складу кістенів. War-flails belongs to the axe type of weapon and consists of a weigh fastened to the handle with a flexible gążwa (eg. a thong). Flail fight was based on quick circular movements of the thong and weighs and hitting. As early as 3000 BC this type of weapon originated from the mace-like objects with holes containg thong fragments. The alleged exemplars of this type of weapon are associated with the 3rd – 4th cent. Sarmatian tombs. The earliest flails in the early medieval Europe appeared among the Avars (7th – 8th cent.) later (second half of the 8th – 10th cent.) they became popular among the Khazars. This type of weapon was astonishingly popular in Ruthenia, where it appeared probably thanks to the Khazars, beaten in 965 AD by the Duke Svyatoslav. In the next centuries (to be more precise – till the 16th century) flails became one of the most distinctive features of the Old Ukrainian culture.The current collection of flails found in Halych and Volynian land consists of more than 50 artefacts and their parts. Nine of them were made of bones and horns (pict. 1), others – of iron, lead and bronze (pict. 2).Type I (Kirpičnikov classification) is represented by the artefacts made of bones and horns. The earlier artefacts of the Avar and Khazar stands in Ruthenia are dated on the second half of the 10 th to the 13 th cent. Flails from Halych, Plisnesk, Stupnycia, Cherven, Zvenygorod, castle near Shepetivka and castle Bozok are included in this type. There are some images associated with the Rurykowicze symbols which are placed on the artefacts from Zvenygorod; they can be dated on the 11 th-13 th cent. The flail from Cherven case looks similar. This unique exemplar has two relief images of the Ukrainian dignitary – Boyar as well as the image of half-woman and half-bird with a fish-like tail. The artefacts from Zvenygorod and castle Bozok is dated on the first half of the 12 th–13 th cent. and has a haracteristic iron mandrel used for the thong fastening. The last one belonging to this type of flails is the one from Zvenygorod; due to its form has no direct analogies in the published material. It is dated on the second half of the 10 th – 13 th cent. which is proved by the artefacts accompanying it. Iron flails represent type II (Dorogobuzh, Zelenche, Cherven, castle near Shepetivka) and type IV (Peremyl). Due to the unclear character of the finding, the first one can be dated on the second half of the 10 th-13 th cent. Among bronze flails we can distinguish type IIA (Peresopnycia) and IIIA (Halychyna) which are examples of the greatest Old Ukrainian craftsmen artistry. These flails, primarily cast in copper forms mainly by the southern Ruthenian craftsmen are richly decorated in the manner characteristic for the 12 th-13 th cent. Because of that they were probably more a warrior status symbol than a real weapon. It is worth mentioning that the artefact from Gorodok due to its small size is treated like a toy. The presence of flails on the western Ukrainian borders, belonging in the past to the Halych-Volynian kingdom cannot be surprising. They constituted an inseparable element of the old Ukrainian culture. Their splendid character indicates their value, certifying the high social and political status of the owners. Some of them were probably produced in that locatio.