But we cannot correlate the names given by Herodotus with specific sites or groups of artifacts, so we will treat the nomads Herodotus names as essentially a homogeneous culture, although there must have been ethno-linguistic variations among them. Secondly, Herodotus describes a variety of tribes, naming them and placing them in a geographical framework. First, as we know from archaeological evidence that the cultures of the people of the Eurasian steppe were relatively homogeneous during the middle centuries of the first millennium B.C., we will use evidence from the whole steppe area rather than just the Pontic (i.e., Black Sea) region to substantiate the observations of Herodotus about the Black Sea Scythians.

It is possible to test the validity of his ethnographic information against archaeological evidence from the Black Sea steppe eastward to China.īut before doing so we must make two assumptions. How accurate was this information recorded by Herodotus? Other information was apparently hearsay, and reached the Greek world along with such goods as silk, traded from Eastern Asia. Much information which he collected must have come secondhand from the Black Sea Greeks who traded with the Scythians, who provided the Greeks with policemen, fish, and wheat, among other things. Some of the information which Herodotus provided about these nomadic peoples he apparently had gathered during his own trip to the Black Sea region, which took him as far east as the city of Olbia and the Dneiper River (called the Borysthenes by the Greeks]. Designed for 1-4 Raiders ages 12+ to explore in 60 min.The Greek historian Herodotus (490/480-425 B.C.], in his History of the Persian Wars, included an excursus on the ethnography of the Scythians and other nomadic groups with whom the Greeks were familiar.Adds eagles and horses to customize your crew with special abilities, strength and VP bonuses.Builds on the award-winning game play of Raiders of the North Sea.Play against up to 3 friends or against the rival Scythian Chieftain in a highly intuitive Solo Mode.Play as one of eight Scythian Heroes each with their own unique player power.The game ends when there are only 2 unraided Settlements or 2 Quests remaining on the Main Board. Players will need to assemble a Crew, train Animals and gather Provisions. VP are gained by raiding Settlements, taking Plunder and completing Quests. The aim of Raiders of Scythia is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the game’s end. Some even believe they inspired the Greek tales of the Amazons. They fashioned leather armour and improvised the recurve bow. Their artisans were renowned for their ability to craft detailed trinkets of gold. Yet, despite their fortifications and imposing armies, rumours began spreading of a formidable foe in the lands above the Black Sea. Many centuries ago, the Greek, Persian and Assyrian empires controlled vast amounts of land and riches.