Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

the scythians as others saw them
Although the relationship with the nomadic tribes on the Central Asian frontier
was at times troubled, both sides could benefit. At the capital Persepolis one of the
reliefs on the wall of a large hypostyle hall known as the Apadāna shows ambassadors
from all corners of the empire bringing offerings to the Persian king. Among
them is a deputation of Sakā, distinguished by their tall pointed hats. One of the gifts
they are leading is a sturdy horse—a reminder of their contributions to the Persian
cavalry. Sakā horsemen also served in the Persian army as mercenaries. Diplomatic
gifts will have flowed the other way, introducing into the world of the nomads Persian
artistic motifs and values to be selectively incorporated into their own repertoires
(below, pp. 170–6).
The Persians in Europe
Darius recognized three distinct groups of Sakā, the two Central Asian groups
already mentioned and a third group, the ‘Sakā beyond the Sea’. These were the
Scythians who lived on the Pontic steppe with whom the Persians were to engage in
513/512 when Darius launched his European campaign.
Having reached natural boundaries to north, south, and east, the only direction
left for the Persians to expand was to the west where lay the evident attraction of the
wealthy cities of Greece. But before turning his attention to the Greeks Darius decided
to campaign against the European Scythians. His reasons for this are obscure. It may
be that he was intending to try to conquer the entire Pontic steppe, thus creating a
broad corridor linking to the Caspian Sea and the Persian territory beyond. As a strategy
it was not without its advantages for by doing so he would have been able to
control the whole of the Black Sea and the Greek colonies around it.
Whatever his ultimate intention, his first requirement was to create a base on the
European shore of the sea, on the south bank of the Danube. To do this he ordered
an Ionian naval force to sail to the Danube mouth to build a bridge across the river.
This they did, choosing a suitable location two days upstream. The Danube at this
time formed the southern boundary of Scythian territory. While this was in progress
he built a bridge over the Bosphorus and led his army across, setting foot in Europe
for the first time. His onward march took him through Thrace northwards toward
the Danube, meeting little opposition except from the Getae, whom he defeated and
‘forthwith enslaved’. At the Danube the Persians crossed the river and, on Darius’
orders, the bridge was dismantled. The plan was for the army to march against the
Scythians while the Ionian naval detachment supported them by sea.
The response of the Scythians to the attack was to fall back, driving off their herds,
burning the forage, and blocking up the wellsprings. By doing this they drew the Per-
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