SCYTHIA (region in Tauric Chersonese)
Multinational region of Central Eurasia in the classical era
- Kind of place
- Region
- Region
- Tauric Chersonese
- Where
- 44.94° N, 34.12° E
The area experienced cold, wintry, and frosty weather conditions. Herodotus 4.8.3 This region of Scythia lacks both corn and trees. Ovid Met. 8.738-884 (2) The region contains a steep mountain known as Caucasus. Ovid Met. 8.738-884 (3)
Described in the sources
The Ister river flows along the borders of Scythia, marking the starting point for its northern boundary description at a coastal bay where its mouth faces southeast. Herodotus 4.100.2 +3 The Tauri people lived in a specific part of Scythia. Herodotus 4.99.4 +1 Scyles was a son of Ariapithes, who held the title of king of Scythia. Herodotus 4.78.1 +1 Scythia is bordered on its northern and inland side by the Black-cloaks. Herodotus 4.100.2 +1 Scythia has a square shape with two sides consisting of coastline and a cross-measurement of five hundred miles. Herodotus 4.101.1 +1 The Scythians retreated northward into Scythia to escape the pursuing Persians, maintaining a one-day distance from the invading force while inside the region. Herodotus 4.124.2 +1 The region is named Scythia Sindice. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.26 ¶2 Scythia is located adjacent to Germany. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 8.15 ¶1 Panticapæum is 87.5 miles from Theodosia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.26 ¶3 The region faces south and the south wind. Herodotus 4.99.2
Stories and history
Whole pools turn into a single frozen mass. Georgics 3.349 Cattle perish and stand island-like amid the frost. Georgics 3.349 Wine is so frozen that it must be cleaved with axes. Georgics 3.349 They cut off the noses of men wherever they traveled. Athenaeus 12.27 The bird nests in a hare's skin hung from tree branches. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 10.50 ¶2 The sun never fully dispels the shadows in this location. Georgics 3.349 Icicles stiffly cling to the untrimmed beards of the people. Georgics 3.349 Stags are benumbed by the weight of snow and barely visible. Georgics 3.349 The Scythians were the first people to establish common laws. Athenaeus 12.27 They are buffeted by blasts of Eurus from the Rhipaean hills. Georgics 3.349
Myths set at Scythia
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Binding of Prometheus. Zeus orders Hephaestus to bind Prometheus to a desolate crag in Scythia for stealing divine honors to give to mortals. Prometheus is left to endure severe physical miseries and sleepless vigilance as a punishment to accept Zeus's sovereignty. Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1-35 +5 Prometheus
In the age of heroes
- The Rescue of the Sons of Phineus. The sons of Phineus, imprisoned and tortured, call for help, and Heracles arrives unexpectedly to rescue them. He defeats Phineus, restores the sons to their throne, and persuades them to send their stepmother away rather than torture her. Diodorus 4.43 +1 Heracles
- The Attack by King Lyncus. hook: "A youth travels through the air to Scythia to spread the gift of agriculture." goal: "He seeks to teach the local people how to farm." outcome: "The king who attacks him is transformed into a lynx."} Ovid Met. 5.642-678 Triptolemus