The Old and the Restless - The Egyptians and the Scythians in Herodotus' Histories by Robert J. Hagan

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away, when you could do something different? For instance, if you think you have the ability to
resist my power, then stop this aimless wandering, stay in one place and fight” (4.126). Darius
clearly does not know what to make of these strange tactics that are characteristic of a culture
that does not value personal territory or the idea of a town. 20
As well as sending divisions to attack foraging Persian troops (4.128), Idanthyrsus leads
his men, with Darius in close pursuit, through the territories of the tribes that refused his alliance
in order to draw them into fighting (4.125). The chaos that is stirred within these territories
proves the Scythian plan to be correct, given that most of the non-allied tribes choose to flee
north, just as the Scythians have done all along. The scene where Darius finally realizes his folly
shows Herodotus at his narrative best. Finally drawn up in battle, the Scythians choose instead to
chase after a hare, proving to Darius their contempt for the Persians and displaying their
uncatchable nature (4.134).
Herodotus sees the Scythians as an exemplar of sound military strategy. He makes no
secret of his admiration for their tactics, writing, “Although in other respects I do not find the
Scythians particularly admirable, they have come up with the cleverest solution I know of to the
single most important matter in human life. The crucial thing they have discovered is how to
prevent anyone who attacks them from escaping, and how to avoid being caught unless they
want to be detected” (4.46). Indeed, the tactics of the Scythians are new and effective, and they
demonstrate that the Persians can be defeated, even with inferior numbers, by evasion and
surprise.
20 Hartog, F. The Mirror of Herodotus, 51.