Scythia

A name employed in ancient times to denote a vast, indefinite, and almost unknown territory north and east of the Black Sea, the Caspian, and the Sea of Aral. This country was inhabited by a race of people who were called Scythæ, but who called themselves Scoloti. Only two important events in Scythian history are mentioned by Hero dot us; the one is the invasion of Media by the Scythians, and the other that of Scythia by Darius. In 624 B.C. the Scythians entered Media, defeated Cyaxares, the reigning monarch, and occupied the land for twenty-eight years before they were expelled. It was at least ostensibly in revenge for this incursion that Darius Hystaspis determined to invade Scythia about 513 B.C. He formed a bridge acro the Danube, and cro ing that river obtained some advantages over the Scythians. But he was unable to effect any real conquest over these nomad tribes, and narrowly escaped having his retreat cut off by the destruction of the bridge.