The Scythians were a
nomadic people living on the steppes from the 8th to the 2nd
century BC. Driven South East from their initial home brought them into
contact with other races including the Assyrians, Greeks and Persians.
Darius 1 of Persia undertook a war
against the Scythians, but their
scorched earth tactics and constant attacks forced him to ignominiously
retreat from Scythian land.
Scythian
warriors were skilled horsemen and their deadliest weapon was the
composite bow, made of wood, horn and sinew. It was a powerful
weapon capable of shooting 400 paces and Scythian horse
archers were capable of
shooting 10 aimed shots a minute from the saddle, shooting the bronze
tipped arrows forwards or backwards at a pursuing enemy, all whilst at the
gallop. The figure shown has just released an arrow with a ‘parting shot’
at an enemy foolish enough to follow him.
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