Another visit to the Hermitage, where we visited the Russian culture, Ancient Siberia and Caucasus rooms. I showed a lot of pics from the Hermitage when we visited St Petes last year.
Jennifer and a snake
Climbing the Jordan Staircase to the 2nd floor
The Armorial Hall which was created under Nicholas 1st after its predecessor was damaged in the fire of 1837.
A ceremonial sledge created in 1760
The saddle of King Charles 12th of Sweden, captured when Russia defeated the Swedes at the Battle of Poltava in 1709.
A tree-trunk coffin, 6th century BC, from Tuekta, on the River Ursul of Altai Province in southern Siberia.
Diadem created by the Huns in 4th-5th century AD, found at Verkhne-Pogromnoye, Volgograd Province.
Armour of Polovtsian horseman, Lipovets, Kiev Province (12th century).
Stone statue, East Turkestan (currently Xinjiang Province of north-west China), 12th century
Parts of a shield used by the Alans, late 4th century AD, found at Kerch (eastern Crimea).
Saddle decoration from an Alan horse, late 4th century, found at Concesti (now in Romania).
Scythian children’s funeral masks, 5-6th century, found at Stepanovka, Lugansk Province
Models of Scythian people from the Tuva Republic of Eastern Siberia, 8th century BC
Sumerian saddle mount in the form of an eagle, 6th century BC, Bashadar (now in Iraq)
Remains of a Scythian horse, 5th century BC, Pazaryk in Altai Province.
Scythian horse mask, 5th century BC, Pazaryk (Altai Province)
Scythian harp, 5th century BC, Pazaryk.
Urartian jug, 7th century BC, near Lake Van in eastern Turkey
Urartian battle helmet, 8th century BC, near Lake Van
Urartian corpse, 8th century BC
Picture of Hermitage cats attacking Germans during the siege. There is a display of paintings of Tikhon, a cat which lived at the Hermitage and survived the siege. He is variously depicted as an air raid warden, a fighter pilot and many other roles.
Feline airman attacking Germans while defending the Hermitage.