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Osprey Men at Arms #137
The Scythians 700–300 BC
Though the 'Scythian period' in the history of Eastern Europe lasted little more than 400 years, the impression these horsemen made upon the history of their times was such that a thousand years after they had ceased to exist as a sovereign people, their heartland and the territories which they dominated far beyond it continued to be known as 'greater Scythia'. From the very beginnings of their emergence on the world scene the Scythians took part in the greatest campaigns of their times, defeating such mighty contemporaries as Assyria, Urartu, Babylonia, Media and Persia. This highly illustrated book details their costume, weapons and the way they waged war.
48 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 1983
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August 25, 2023
THE SCYTHIANS 700 - 300 BC is an excellent little piece of ancient history. I have quite a collection of books from this series and I started over rereading them again in somewhat of a chronological order. To tell the truth, I am glad that I did as now I have a better understanding of how all these cultures overlapped and the changes that occurred as nations evolved from tribes to kingdoms and empires.
The Scythians were horsemen who inhabited the plains north of the Black Sea. Their use of horses and mastery of the bow made them a fierce warlike society. What we know of them comes from some 5000 graves that have been unearthed over the years. Evidently their women joined in battle and were also skilled with the bow. One of the things I like about this series are the color plates based on the grave findings and surviving ancient artwork that show the dress and weapons of the subjects. There is one plate that shows a Scythian noblewoman dressed for battle. She carries a sword at her side and is drawing an arrow for her bow. Hanging from her belt is a small case for her mirror. I guess she wanted to make sure she looked pretty before going into battle. The plate of the queen also had a mirror case in evidence, so it must have been common. A beautiful small comb of solid gold that has highly detailed warrior figures for a handle is one of the most famous of all Scythian finds.
Scythians wore scale armor made of small iron plates wired together. Although these people used swords, lances, slings, and all the other implements of ancient warfare, the bow was their chief weapon. They were quite accurate at long range and one individual was recorded as having sent an arrow some 282 orgyiai, which is about 521.6 meters. I thought that was quite impressive as the Russian AK-47 manual states that although it shoots out to 1000 meters the recommended battle range is 300 meters.
These archers carried between 30 and 150 arrows and could blanket the opposing force with a shower of arrows, many of which were poisoned. Combining the maneuverability of their horses with that kind of firepower gave them great tactical advantages, for many ancient and medieval armies, once the battle started, lost all cohesion and became a mad free-for-all.
Scythians lived for battle. One king by the name of Atheas was killed in battle when he was 90 years old. They ravaged the whole of Asia in their day. At one point their leadership was invited to a feast by the Medians who treacherously killed them in a manner similar to Stalin ordering the killing of all non-communist partisans in Poland during their liberation. Though the Scythians were still hired by foreigners, their days of greatness had passed.
Of interest to me was the mention of Cimmerian nomads whose lands had been conquered by the Scythians. In the comic books about Conan the Barbarian, Conan is from the post-Atlantean area known as Cimmeria. Also, the stories of Homer are often reflected in the artwork of their gold plated weapons and armor. I know it is nothing, but it is fun to think, "What if..."
The Scythians were horsemen who inhabited the plains north of the Black Sea. Their use of horses and mastery of the bow made them a fierce warlike society. What we know of them comes from some 5000 graves that have been unearthed over the years. Evidently their women joined in battle and were also skilled with the bow. One of the things I like about this series are the color plates based on the grave findings and surviving ancient artwork that show the dress and weapons of the subjects. There is one plate that shows a Scythian noblewoman dressed for battle. She carries a sword at her side and is drawing an arrow for her bow. Hanging from her belt is a small case for her mirror. I guess she wanted to make sure she looked pretty before going into battle. The plate of the queen also had a mirror case in evidence, so it must have been common. A beautiful small comb of solid gold that has highly detailed warrior figures for a handle is one of the most famous of all Scythian finds.
Scythians wore scale armor made of small iron plates wired together. Although these people used swords, lances, slings, and all the other implements of ancient warfare, the bow was their chief weapon. They were quite accurate at long range and one individual was recorded as having sent an arrow some 282 orgyiai, which is about 521.6 meters. I thought that was quite impressive as the Russian AK-47 manual states that although it shoots out to 1000 meters the recommended battle range is 300 meters.
These archers carried between 30 and 150 arrows and could blanket the opposing force with a shower of arrows, many of which were poisoned. Combining the maneuverability of their horses with that kind of firepower gave them great tactical advantages, for many ancient and medieval armies, once the battle started, lost all cohesion and became a mad free-for-all.
Scythians lived for battle. One king by the name of Atheas was killed in battle when he was 90 years old. They ravaged the whole of Asia in their day. At one point their leadership was invited to a feast by the Medians who treacherously killed them in a manner similar to Stalin ordering the killing of all non-communist partisans in Poland during their liberation. Though the Scythians were still hired by foreigners, their days of greatness had passed.
Of interest to me was the mention of Cimmerian nomads whose lands had been conquered by the Scythians. In the comic books about Conan the Barbarian, Conan is from the post-Atlantean area known as Cimmeria. Also, the stories of Homer are often reflected in the artwork of their gold plated weapons and armor. I know it is nothing, but it is fun to think, "What if..."
Displaying 1 of 1 review