Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

3.2
obverse of the second coin, which comes from the site of Varakhsha, has an image of
a beast of prey moving right, and a Nestorian cross in the centre of the reverse side.
O.I. Smirnova believes that these coins were most likely issued by Sogdian Christian
princes or the head of a Christian community or monastery.
Bronze coins depicting the Nestorian cross were issued by Rokhanch IV (7th
century), the ruler (afshin) of Ustrushana.
A 7th-century bronze coin discovered at Afrasiab is particularly interesting. On
the obverse is a bust of a ruler with Mongolian features, wearing a tall bashlyk-shaped
headdress. To the right of the head is a large cross, whose vertical bar is longer than
the horizontal one, and to the left is a small Nestorian-type cross. This arrangement
of crosses is typical of the coins of Christian Byzantium, in particular of those of
Justinian I (527–565). Findings of such coins in Central Asia are not uncommon and
they are probably copies of the latter. The profusion of Christian symbols on this coin
suggests that the Turkic ruler who issued it was a Christian, most likely a Nestorian.
A. Musakaeva identified about a dozen bronze coins with an image of a beast of prey
or deer on the obverse and a Nestorian cross on the reverse in the collection of coins
assembled by V.A. Shishkin’s expedition in Varakhsha.
In addition to coins, many objects with Christian symbols and motifs dating
from early and late medieval periods have also been found in Central Asia. One of
the most interesting discoveries is a hoard of early Christian objects found in the
1920s at the Geoktepa site in southern Turkmenistan. The partly preserved hoard
from the 6th century includes round plaques and medallions with holes around the
edges, designed for sewing onto cloth. They bear images of a ram or lamb, an early
Christian symbol for Christ, which was in use until the end of the 7th century, when
the Council in Trullo banned the practice in AD 691–692, and Christ was thereafter
depicted ‘in his human form’. Other plaques depict a phoenix, an early Christian
symbol of immortality and resurrection.
The most interesting motifs are depicted on the gold medallion. On one side is an
image of a ram standing on a pedestal of three horizontal lines, above these is a small
cross, and behind the ram’s head is a staff with a fluttering banner attached to its top
end. On the other side is a standing human figure behind whom is a flagstaff.
M.E. Masson demonstrated that these motifs represent Christian iconography
and symbols: the ram is a lamb, the human figure is an image of Christ the Shepherd,
the staff with the fluttering banner represents the khorugv or banner of the Christian
Church, and the three horizontal lines represent Mount Golgotha, where Christ
became a martyr.
The rim of a khum with three seal impressions and an image of two male figures
was found at Koshtepa I. One of the figures is wearing a long robe and a tall headdress,
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