The origine of the name and the visual image of Scythian goddess Aphrodite Uranium

Abstract

According to Herodotus Scythian goddess Argimpasa is identical to Greek Aphrodite Uranium (Heavenly). Iranologists cannot explaine etymological meaning of the name Argimpasa on the basis of the Iranian languages. On the other hand study of this name on the basis of the ancient Turkic languages shows positive results and reveals its polisemous etymological meaning. The images of goddesses in the Scythian art are analysed and compared to the information in written sources and traditions of Shamanism in the Altaic language family. It allows us to establish that: 1) Scythian depictions of a female deity with big feet, a ire and a mirror refer to the Scythian goddess Tabiti. 2) Scythian images of a female creature with zoomorphic limbs, wings, surrounded by animals, holding a severed male’s head in her hand, are depicting Scythian goddess Argimpasa. 3) A whip with a golden spiral band from the Scythian barrows symbolised their goddess Argimpasa.