The histories of Herodotus;

236 HERODOTUS—BOOK IV, MELPOMENE [76-79
he was son of Gnurus, son of Lycus, son of Spargapithes ; if,
then, Anacharsis was of this family, let him know he was killed
by his own brother; for Idanthyrsus was son of Saulius, and
it was Saulius who killed Anacharsis. However, I have heard
another story told by the Peloponnesians, that Anacharsis,
being sent abroad by the King of the Scythians, became a disciple
of the Grecians ;
and on his return home he said to the
king who sent him abroad that all the Greeks were employed
in acquiring all kinds of knowledge, except the Lacedaemonians,
but that they only were able to give and receive a reason
with prudence : but this story is told in sport by the Greeks
themselves. The man, then, was killed in the manner before
mentioned. Thus, therefore, he fared because of foreign customs
and intercourse with the Grecians.
Many years afterward, Scylas, son of Ariapithes, met with
a similar fate. For Ariapithes, King of the Scythians, had,
among other children, Scylas; he was born of an Istrian
woman, who did not in any way belong to the country: his
mother taught him the Grecian language and letters. Afterward,
in course of time, Ariapithes met his death by treachery
at the hands of Spargapithes, King of the Agathyrsi, and
Scylas succeeded to the kingdom, and his father's wife, whose
name was Opcea ; this Opoea was a native, by whom Ariapithes
had a son, Oricus. Scylas, though reigning over the Scyth-
ians, was by no means pleased with the Scythian mode of life,
but was much more inclined to the Grecian manners on account
of the education he had received ; he, therefore, acted
thus : Whenever he led the Scythian army to the city of the
Borysthenitse (now these Borysthenitae say they are Milesians),
as soon as Scylas reached them, he used to leave his army in
the suburbs, and, when he himself had gone within the walls,
and had closed the gates, having laid aside his Scythian dress,
he used to assume the Grecian habit, and in this dress he
walked in public, unattended by guards or any one else ; and
they kept watch at the gates, that no Scythian might see him
wearing this dress ; and in other respects he adopted the Grecian
mode of living, and performed sacrifices to the gods according
to the rites of the Grecians. When he had stayed a month or
more, he used to depart, resuming the Scythian habit. This
he used frequently to do ; he also built a palace in the Borysthenes,
and married a native woman, to inhabit it. Since,
however, it was fated that misfortune should befall him, it
happened on this occasion. He was very desirous to be initiated
in the mysteries of Bacchus; and as he was just about
to begin the sacred rites, a very great prodigy occurred.