SCYTHIAN INFANTRY (VII-II C. BC)

The Scythians are a nomadic people of Iranian origin, whose original seats were probably between the Lower Volga and the Altai Mountains. From the 8th or 7th century BC, the Scythians lived on the northern coast of the Black Sea. They are first attested in Greek sources in the 7th century BC. Later in their history, they created their own state on the Black Sea, which at the beginning of the 6th century BC resisted the army of Darius the Great, and in the 4th century BC it came into conflict with the Macedonian monarchy, which was lost to this conflict. The Scythians were famous in antiquity as great horsemen, but also as fantastic archers. It is assumed that they were the first on a larger scale in the ancient world to start using the reflex arc with a huge, for those times, penetrating power. The Scythians were also known for their courage in the battlefield. These reasons made them serve as mercenaries in the Athenian polis from the reign of Pisistratus (6th century BC). They not only performed specific cleaning tasks in the polis, but also took part in battles. It is assumed that the maximum range of a shot from the Scythian bow on the Athenian acorn was up to approx. 130-150 meters. The Scythians in the Athenian polis also kept their outfit consisting of leather boots, trousers and a colorful shirt, which clearly distinguished them from native Greeks. It is worth adding that in the 5th century BC they also served as mercenaries in the Persian army.