The Scythians 

Sources:

Cunliffe, Barry. The Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppe, Oxford, 2019.  

Images Used:

Portrait of Peter I, Jean-Marc Nattier, 1717

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inconnu_d%27apr%C3%A8s_J.-M._Nattier,_Portrait_de_Pierre_Ier_(mus%C3%A9e_de_l%E2%80%99Ermitage).jpg

Royal Kurgan, Kerch

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kerch_Tsarskiy_Kurgan_IMG_2160_1725.jpg

Royal Kurgan Entrance, Kerch

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crimea_Kerch_Tsar%27s_barrow-12.jpg

Golden Scythian Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla, 4th century BC 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pektoral111.JPG

Gold Cup discovered in Kul-Oba Kurgan 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vas_d%27or_amb_representaci%C3%B3_d%27escites,_kurgan_de_Kul-Oba,_segona_meitat_del_segle_IV_aC.JPG

Libation Scene on interior of Attic red-figure cup, Makron, circa 480 BC 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Libation_Macron_Louvre_G149.jpg

Feast of Attilla, Mór Than, 1870. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23831

Eagle hunting in the steppes of Kyrgyzstan 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ishenbek_surveys_the_rolling_expanse_of_the_high_steppe._%283968890120%29.jpg

A flock of sheep grazing in Russian landscape 

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-flock-of-sheep-grazing-in-a-dry-mountainous-landscape-vJT4E20PvUE

Arial view of Arzhan 1 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%90%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%B0%D0%BD-1.JPG

Attic vase painting of a Scythian Archer 520-500 BC 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Epiktetos_ARV_78_93_Scythian_archer.jpg

Reproduction of a depiction of Cimmerian mounted archers from a Greek vase

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kimmerer1.jpg

Scythians shooting with bows, from Kerch, c. 475-450 BC, photographed at the Louvre 

https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15278/scythians-shooting-with-bows/

Relief of Median delegation on the stairway of the Apadana in Persepolis, Iran 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Relief_on_the_southern_wall_of_the_east_stairway_of_the_Apadana_depicting_Lydians_who_offer_vases,_cups_and_bracelets_and_a_chariot_drawn_by_diminutive_horses,_Persepolis,_Iran_%2832836014327%29.jpg

Reproduction of a Scythian bottle 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468778

Relief stone of Darius the Great in the Behistun inscription

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darius_the_great._jpg.jpg

Coin of the Scythian King Ateas 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A1%D0%BA%D1%96%D1%84%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B0_%D1%96%D0%B7_%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%BC_%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8F_%D0%90%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%8F.jpg

Scythian gold statuette depicting ritual of brotherhood 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iv%C3%B3cimbor%C3%A1k_Dombor%C3%ADtott_aranylemezke_I.B._Brasinszkij-_Szk%C3%ADta_kincsek_nyom%C3%A1ban.jpg

Terracotta volute-krater attributed to Painter of the Woolly Satyrs, ca. 450 BCE, depicting battle between Greeks and Amazons 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247964

Bronze Statuette of a Scythian mounted archer 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255955

Drawing of Scythian Warriors based on cup from Kul-Oba kurgan burial 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_Warriors.jpg

Close up of Scythian Warrior stringing his bow, based on cup from Kul’Oba kurgan burial 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skythe.png

Replica of clothing and armour found in burial mound of the ‘Golden Man’ in Kazakhstan, dating to 3rd-4th cen. B.C.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sun_emperor.JPG

Scythian Tribute Bearers on the Apadana Staircase, Persepolis, Iran 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_Tribute_Bearers_on_the_Apadana_Staircase_12_(Best_Viewed_Size_%22Large%22)_(4688092455).jpg

Pazyryk tattoo design with zoomorphic symbols, 4th century BCE 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pazyryk_tatoo_design_with_zoomorphic_symbols,_4th_century_BCE.jpg

Reconstruction of the tattoos of Pazyrk chief 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pazyryk-2_tattoos.png

Gold plaques showing Scythians drinking, State Hermitage Museum

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians

Gold plate inlay of a hare, Iran 7th century BCE 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/325691

Bust of Aristophanes, 1st century AD, in the Uffizi Gallery

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Bust_of_Aristophanes.jpg/960px-Bust_of_Aristophanes.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail

Sarcophagus from Pazyryk burial chamber 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hermitage_Museum_-_2015_Dec_-_IMG_2123_(r27).jpg

A Roman copy (2nd century AD) of a Greek bust of Herodotus from the first half of the 4th century BC 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/245829

Decorated tapestry with seated goddess Tabiti and rider, Pazyryk Kurgan 5

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Pazyryk_presentation_scene.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=index&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled

Embalmed head of Pazyryk clan chieftain circa 300 BCE, State Hermitage Museum

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Siberian_head,_Hermitage_Museum,_St._Petersburg.jpg

Scythian Karagodeuashkh Headdress featuring potential Enaree 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_Karagodeuashkh_Headdress.jpg

American Linden Bark detail 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Linden_bark_detail.jpg

West Side of the Kozel Kurgans 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:West_side_of_a_barrow_-_panoramio.jpg

The Scythian burial mound or kurgan at Solokha, before and during excavation in 1913 

https://the-past.com/feature/treasures-of-the-scythian-kings/

Black-figure sky-how with depiction of Athena and Heracles fighting the Cretan Bull 

https://cyfrowe.mnw.art.pl/pl/zbiory/486297

Altai shaman with drum, early 20th century 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SB_-_Altay_shaman_with_drum.jpg

Drawings of Scythian stelae of the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Many depicting warriors representing the deceased buried in the kurgan, holding a drinking horn in their right hand 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_stelae_01.jpg

Preparation of a sacrifice from a Roman marble architectural relief, 2nd century AD, Louvre Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_sacrifice_Louvre_Ma992.jpg

The sacrifice of Polyxena after the capture of Troy, 6th century Attic black-figure amphora, British Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sacrifice_Polyxena_BM_GR1897.7-27.2.jpg

The Mixoparthenos (half-maiden) limestone sculpture, 1st-2nd century CE from Crimea 

https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2330/mixoparthenos/

Hercules driving off the cattle of Geryon, Giulio Bonasone, 1531-1576

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/392923

The seated goddess Artimpasa on the bezel of the king Scyles 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bezel_of_Ring_of_Scyles.jpg

Battle between the Scythians and the Slavs, Viktor Vasnetsov, 1881, Russian Museum 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B9_%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%BE%D0%B2_%D1%81%D0%BE_%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8.jpg

Rock relief of Xerxes I from Persepolis, National Museum of Iran 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Museum_of_Iran_Darafsh_(785).JPG

Scythian comb from the Solokha kurgan, Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_comb.jpg

Gold belt plaque showing Scythians with horses under a tree, Siberia 4th-3rd century BC, State Hermitage Museum

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/introducing-scythians

Horse harness with human figures, from Pazyryk Scythian burial 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pazyryk2.png

Attic red-figure plate, featuring archer on horseback (possibly Scythian), ca. 520-500 BC, Ashmolean Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paseas_-_ARV_163_8_-_oriental_archer_on_horseback_-_Oxford_AM_1879-175.jpg

Attic black-figure tondo depicting Scythian archer, Louvre museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skythian_archer_Louvre_F126.jpg

Scythian golden gorytos, 4th century BCE, National Museum of the History of Ukraine 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melitopol_kurgan_gorytos_(corrected_for_perspective).jpg

Attic red-figure column krater featuring battle with hoplite and Scythian archer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Attic_red-figure_column_krater_-_battle_with_hoplite_and_Scythian_archer_(Brindisi_MAPRI)_02.jpg

Scythian warrior with axe, bow, and spear. Possibly Greek work 4th-2nd century BCE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_Warrior_with_Axe,_Bow,_and_Spear_Possibly_Greek_Sculptor_4th-2nd_century_BCE_(Archaic)_marble_with_red_paint_and_gold_leaf.jpg

Pazyryk saddle blanket with griffins slaying an ibex, State Hermitage Museum 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28433765@N07/3262917065

Przewalski’s horse, a wild stocky wild horse native to the steppe 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Przewalskis_horse_02.jpg

Chertomlyk amphora detail 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chortomlyk_amphora_-_drawing_02.jpg

Scythian sword with golden sheath from Tovsta Mohyla, 4th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_sword_with_golden_sheath_from_Tovsta_Mohyla,_4th_century_BC,_white_horizontal.jpg

Archer with Scythian fur-cap, greaves, shield, quiver and bow, depicted on attic red figure cup

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oltos_ARV_58_50bis_archer_-_hoplites_fighting_(02).jpg

Equipment of a Scythian king, reconstruction by Gorelyk M.V. based on excavation materials from the Tovsta Moglia mound 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_1_%D0%A1%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%84%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D1%86%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8F..jpg

Bronze helmet of the Chalcidian type, British Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronze_helmet_of_the_so-called_Chalcidian_type,_British_Museum.jpg

Bronze Corinthian helmet from the tomb of Denda, circa 500-490 BC, State Collections of Antiquities

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corinthian_helmet_Denda_Staatliche_Antikensammlungen_4330.jpg

Bronze Attic Helmet, 350-300 BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_bronze_greek_helmet_-South_Italy.jpg

Scythian-type helmet, 7th-5th century BC 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Helmet_Scythians_7-5cBC_GIM.jpg

Greek bronze greave, 4th century BC 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronze_greave_(shin_guard)_MET_DP-12501-010.jpg

Deer Petroglyphs from the Altai mountains 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petroglyphic_Complexes_of_the_Altai,_Mongolia.jpg

Deer stone, Khovosgol Province, Mongolia circa 1000 BCE 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deer_stone,_Khovosgol_Province,_Mongolia,_circa_1000_BCE.jpg

Tsatsyn Denji Deer stone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tsatsyn_Denj_Deerstone.jpg

Recumbent stag plaque with lapis lazuli inlays, Tarbagatai mountains, 8th to 6th century BC 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eleke_Sazy_stag_rotated,_morphed,_cropped.jpg

Curled up feline animal from Arzhan-1, circa 800 BCE 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arzhan_animal_ring.jpg

Reproduction of Scythian plaque with animal combat, after 5th century BC original 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/321602

Reproduction of a Scythian plaque with animal combat

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/321598

Scythian dress ornament featuring a griffin, 5th century BC

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/328961

Two-planed stag, Filippovka kurgan, 4th century BC, The Pushkin State Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%97%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE_%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%B9._Gold_of_the_Sarmatian_-_Gold-plated_deer.jpg

Bronze plaque depicting animal combat, 4th century BC 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HorseAttackedByTigerOrdos4th-1stBCE.JPG

Terracotta pelike (wine jar) depicting battle between Arimaspeans and griffins 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247342

Decorative carpet from Pazyryk 5 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Siberian_tapestry,_Hermitage_Museum,_St._Petersburg.jpg

Reproduction of a Scythian plaque depicting recumbent stag 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/321601

Belt plaque with scene of animal combat, 4th-3rd century BC, State Hermitage Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siberian_Collection_of_Peter_the_Grea_belt-plaque._State_Hermitage._Inv._Si_1727_1-5.jpg

Scythian golden torc, State Hermitage Museum 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siberian_Collection_of_Peter_the_Great._A_torc._State_Hermitage._Inv._Si_1727_1-62.jpg

The Steppe of Western Kazakhstan

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steppe_of_western_Kazakhstan_in_the_early_spring.jpg

Horse grazing in the Terelj-Gorkhi National park, Mongolia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horse_in_Terelj-Gorkhi_National_park.jpg

Horses on the Kazakh Steppe

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kazakhstan_steppe_Almaty_Province_%281%29_horses.jpg

Reconstruction of the tomb of the ‘Ice Maiden’, 5th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gorno-Altaysk_Museum_BurialComplex_014_4453.jpg

Mummy found at Pazyryk 5

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pazyryk-5_mummy.jpg

The Kul’Oba Cup, 4th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kul_oba_beaker.jpg

Terracotta wine jar, 4th century BC

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/247342

Artist’s depiction of a Scythian, from the Kurgan of Olon-Kurin-Gol

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reconstruction_of_a_Scythian,_found_in_the_kurgan_Olon-Kurin-Gol_10,_Altai_Mountains,_Mongolia_(reconstruction_by_Dimitri_Pozdniakov).jpg

Scythian Warrior

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Warrior_of_Scithians.png

Nomadic horsemen depicted in ‘Arrival of the Hungarians’, Árpád Feszty

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hungarian_warriors.jpg

Kyrgyz Steppe

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ishenbek,_Berkut_and_horse_ride_across_the_steppe._%283968117223%29.jpg

Darius the Great

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Darius_I_%28The_Great%29.jpg

The Battle of Pelusium, 525 BC, at which the Persians under Cambyses II defeated the Egyptian army

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_story_of_the_greatest_nations;_a_comprehensive_history,_extending_from_the_earliest_times_to_the_present,_founded_on_the_most_modern_authorities,_and_including_chronological_summaries_and_(14596550289).jpg

Ovid Amongst the Scythians, Eugene Delacroix, 1859

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix_-_Ovide_chez_les_Scythes_(1859).jpg

Horses on the Kazakh Steppe

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horses_in_Kazakhstan.jpg

Reproduction of a decorative Scythian cup

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/463216

Headress, 4th century BC. The bottom panel appears to depict Scythian priestesses.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karagodeuashkh_Headdress_Detail.png

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_Karagodeuashkh_Headdress.jpg

The Portonaccio sarcophagus, depicting Sarmatians, Germans and Romans, 2nd century AD

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:0_Sarcophage_de_Portonaccio_%28PMT_240%29_-_Palazzo_Museo_Massimo_%283%29.JPG

Wagon found at Pazyryk 5

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hermitage_hall_026_-_05.jpg

Traditional Kazakh Yurt

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kazakh_yurt.jpg

Decorative carpet found at Pazyryk 5

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hermitage_hall_026_-_03.jpg

Przewalski's horse, a relatively short and stocky wild horse, of the kind used by the Scythians

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Group_of_Takhi_at_Hustai.jpg

Details from the Golden Pectoral from Tovsta Mohyla, 4th century BC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_gold_pectoral_Tovsta_Mohyla_(detail_5).jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_gold_pectoral_Tovsta_Mohyla_(detail_6).jpg

Forest in Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A7%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%96_%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D1%96_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8.jpg

Basse Yutz Flagons, 5th century BC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basse_Yutz_Flagons#/media/File:British_Museum_Basse_Yutz_flagons_(1).jpg

Battle scene depicted on the Solokha Comb, 430-390 BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scythian_gold_comb_with_the_image_of_a_battle_scene,_from_the_Solokha_kurgan,_430-390_BC_(47362587962).jpg

Uvs Lake Basin

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A2%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%8B.jpg

Possible depiction of a Sauromatian horseman, 4th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sauromatians_horseman.jpg

Philip II of Macedon, Roman copy of Greek original, 4th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Head_of_Philip_II,_King_of_Macedonia.jpg

Decorative dagger found in the Filippovka Kurgan, likely late 4th or early 5th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Filippovka_kurgan_dagger.jpg

Marble bust of Herodotus, 2nd century AD

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marble_bust_of_Herodotos_MET_DT11742_(cropped).jpg

Mongolian steppe

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kh%C3%B6vsg%C3%B6l_Aimag17.JPG

Gora Afanasieva mountain, Minusinsk Basin

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gora_Afanasieva_%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%90%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B0_(403,2_%D0%BC),_view_1.jpg

Example of a skull cup, found at Cheddar Gorge, England

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skull_cup.jpg

Tomyris Plunges the Head of the Dead Cyrus Into a Vessel of Blood, Mattia Preti, 17th century

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Tomyris_and_the_head_of_Cyrus_the_Great.jpg

Phalanx depicted on a frieze on the tomb of Pericles of Lycia, 4th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Limyra,_Mausoleum_of_Pericles,_phalanx.jpg

Seal impression depicting Achaemenid soldiers fighting Scythians, 5th century BC

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Achaemenid_soldiers_against_Scythians.jpg

Pontic-Caspian Steppe

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%9B%D0%9F%D0%97_%D0%9D%D0%90%D0%9D%D0%A3_%22%D0%A1%D1%82%D1%80%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%86%D1%96%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BF%22_Stipa_tirsa_(%D0%A7%D0%9A%D0%A3).jpg

The Parthian Shot, depicted on a Persian silver bowl, 400 AD

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clevelandart_1962.150.jpg

Deer headdress for a horse, found at Pazyryk, Siberia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Siberian_horse_mask,_Hermitage_Museum,_St._Petersburg.jpg