Concept in Definition ABC

They were the lords of central Asia in ancient times, excellent horsemen capable of defeating the Persian Empire by applying a politics of “scorched earth” but, surprisingly, little known even in the West. They were the Scythians.

The Scythians were a nomadic people of Iranian origin who occupied and dominated the Central Asian steppe between the 7th and 1st centuries BC. C.

Its social structure was similar to that of another nomadic people, with totally different roots, but which would end up forming the largest empire on the earth's layer: the Mongols.

The Scythian people lacked a unified state, dividing into independent tribes that could fight each other, or ally to defend themselves from external attack. Politically they formed a kind of confederation, based on a common culture.

As a nomadic people, they were excellent horsemen and archers as well, being valued as mercenaries in, for example, Greece.

Their fame as warriors increased when they were able to resist the Persian invasion attempt led by Darius I the Great.

Theoretically, for the Persians who possessed a vast empire and a great army, the Scythians were not a rival who could fight them, and This was done in a pitched confrontation, but the Scythians were very clever not to fall for Darius's provocations and attack the army invader in the open field, but harass him and hinder his logistics by depriving him of what they might find in his way, applying a policy of "Burned ground".

According to ancient sources, Darío entered Scythia with an army of 700,000 men, a figure that today is considered exaggerated.

In addition to not being able to feed soldiers and mounts with what he found in his path (because everything had been destroyed), Darío had to face harassment in the form of skirmishes and ambushes that his troops constantly suffered from the alliance Scythian.

The Persian troops entered the steppes, until Darius realized that the Scythian tactic consisted of lure him north so that, when he was far enough away from his starting bases, cut off his rear.

In this way, the huge Persian army would be isolated on enemy soil and with nothing to put to the mouth, which constituted a certain defeat, so the King of kings decided to return to the south.

It was there, near the Danube (for it had penetrated into territory Scythian departing from the European part of his empire) which had the last chance to engage in a pitched battle that he hoped would be decisive.

But legend has it that, seeing that the Scythian horsemen formed before the Persian troops launched themselves to hunt a hare that had broken into their ranks, Darius concluded that it because his enemies were so sure of victory that they did not give much importance to the battle itself, so that was the moment when he decided to leave Scythia and give the war for lost.

Along with the resistance of the Greek polis, the Scythian victory over Persia are the two greatest defeats suffered by the Achaemenid Empire.

Both this and other stories come to us from non-Scythian sources, as few are the writings that this people has bequeathed us.

And what little we have is nothing more than a few inscriptions on, for example, funeral stelae, without any sign of literature.

What they have legacy the Scythians are tombs, with incredible grave goods, and which included horses and riding gear, such as harnesses.

Although they gained fame as warriors, they were also a trading people.

In fact, ancient sources, especially Greek, mention that their wealth came from the Commerce. Precisely with the Greeks there was a great exchange commercial, since the Scythian territory bordered areas rich in grain, while the Greek soil was poor.

Also some Scythians settled down, dedicating themselves to culture.

In the 1st century BC. C. the Scythians disappear, dominated by the Sarmatians.

The latter were a people culturally related to the Scythian, and dominated by the Scythian tribes.

We have more to know about the Scythians than we really do. They are a mysterious people in our eyes, who have not left us many testimonies of how they lived, but equally fascinating although a great unknown on the part of the public opinion.

Photos: Fotolia - Juulijs / Hunta

Themes in Scythians