Amazing Collection of Fine Arms and Armor
Lot 193:
Ancient Scythian Iron AKINAKES Short Sword Dagger, in Excavated but Solid Condition. Rare Early Example, Circa 5th century BC. Scythians From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : "Scythian" redirects here. For members of the wider cultures of which the Scythians were part, see Scythian cultures. For other uses, see Scythian (disambiguation)."Scyth" redirects here. For the tool, see Scythe. For other uses, see Scythe (disambiguation). ~~~~~ The Scythians or Scyths, and sometimes also referred to as the Classical Scythians and the Pontic Scythians, were an ancient Eastern Iranian equestrian nomadic people who primarily lived in the region corresponding to modern-day Ukraine and Southern Russia, which was known as Scythia or Scythica after them, and who dominated the territory of the Pontic steppe from approximately the 7th century BC until the 3rd century BC. The Scythians were led by a warrior aristocracy known as the Royal Scythians. ~~~~~ The Scythians were part of the wider Scythian cultures, stretching across the Eurasian Steppes of Kazakhstan, the Russian steppes of the Siberian, Ural, Volga and Southern regions, and eastern Ukraine. In a broader sense, Scythians has also been used to designate all early Eurasian nomads, although the validity of such terminology is controversial, and other terms such as "Early nomadic" have been deemed preferable. Although both were closely related nomadic Iranian peoples, although the ancient Persians, ancient Greeks, and ancient Babylonians respectively used the names "Saka, " "Scythian, " and "Cimmerian" for all the steppe nomads, the Saka who inhabited the northern and eastern Eurasian Steppe and the Tarim Basin are to be distinguished from the European Scythians, and the name "Scythian" is used specifically for western members of the Scythian cultures while the name "Saka" is used specifically for their eastern members; and while the Cimmerians were often described by contemporaries as culturally Scythian, they may have differed ethnically from the Scythians proper, to whom the Cimmerians were related, and who also displaced and replaced the Cimmerians. ~~~~~ Among the earliest peoples to master mounted warfare, the Scythians replaced the Cimmerians as the dominant power on the Pontic steppe in the 8th century BC. During this time they and related peoples came to dominate the entire Eurasian Steppe from the Carpathian Mountains in the west to Ordos Plateau in the east, creating what has been called the first Central Asian nomadic empire. In the 7th century BC, the Scythians crossed the Caucasus Mountains and frequently raided West Asia along with the Cimmerians, playing an important role in the political developments of the region. Around 650–630 BC, Scythians briefly dominated the Medes of the western Iranian Plateau, and stretched their power to the borders of Egypt. After losing control over Media, they continued intervening in Middle Eastern affairs, playing a leading role in the destruction of the Assyrian Empire in the Sack of Nineveh in 612 BC. After being expelled from West Asia by the Medes, the Scythians subsequently engaged in frequent conflicts with the Achaemenid Empire, and suffered a major defeat against Macedonia in the 4th century BC and were subsequently gradually conquered by the Sarmatians, a related Iranian people living to their west. In the late 2nd century BC, their capital at Scythian Neapolis in the Crimea was captured by Mithridates VI and their territories incorporated into the Bosporan Kingdom. By this time they had been largely Hellenized. By the 3rd century CE, the Sarmatians and last remnants of the Scythians were dominated by the Alans, and were being overwhelmed by the Goths. By the early Middle Ages, the Scythians and the Sarmatians had been largely assimilated and absorbed by early Slavs. The Scythians were instrumental in the ethnogenesis of the Ossetians, who are believed to be descended from the Alans. ~~~~~ The Scythians played an important part in the Silk Road, a vast trade network connecting Greece, Persia, India and China, perhaps contributing to the prosperity of those civilisations. Settled metalworkers made portable decorative objects for the Scythians, forming a history of Scythian metalworking. These objects survive mainly in metal, forming a distinctive Scythian art. ~~~~~ The name of the Scythians survived in the region of Scythia. Early authors continued to use the term "Scythian, " applying it to many groups unrelated to the original Scythians, such as Huns, Goths, Turkic peoples, Avars, Bulgars, Khazars, and other unnamed nomads. The scientific study of the Scythians is called Scythology. Total length (inside scabbard if present) : 19 3/4", Blade length : 14". ~~ DEAR BIDDERS, Please View More Detailed Close-Up Images by visiting our website – Sofedesignauctions.com ~ Thank you ! ~~~~~~. Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at [email protected]
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