Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

the rise of the pontic steppe scythians
Bosporan Kingdom by 349 BC
Bosporan Kingdom by 310 BC
Bosporan Kingdom by 47 BC
Donets
N
Dnieper
Kalos Limen
Kerkinitis
Neapolis Scythica
Chersonesos
S C Y T H I A N S
Theddosie
Panticapaeum
Nymphaion
Kimmerikon
Sea of
Azov
Phanegoreia
Hermonassa
R O XO L A N
Gorgippa
Bata
I
Tanais
Don
S I R A C E S
Kuban
M A E O TA E
Black Sea
0 100 miles
0 100km
5.7 In the fourth century the Greek communities on the Kerch and Taman peninsulas came together
in an alliance that became known as the Bosporan Kingdom. By the end of the first century bc it had
expanded to include the east side of the Sea of Azov up to the mouth of the Don.
Greeks sent in by Athens. Intermarriage with the Scythians of the Crimea and the
Pontic steppe and Sauromatians living to the east of the Don added to the ethnic mix.
The eclectic culture of the kingdom is well illustrated by the wide variety of burial
practices in use. Until the end of the fifth century Greek customs prevailed, but from
the fourth century onwards some of the burials took on a distinctly Scythian appearance.
Athens tried to maintain its hold on trade, sending no less a person than Pericles
to negotiate, but by the end of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 bc) Athenian
influence had all but disappeared and the Bosporan kingdom continued on its independent
course, led by a succession of tyrants.
A significant advance in the kingdom’s fortunes came with the appropriation of
the east shore of the Sea of Azov and the mouth of the River Don by Parisades I (348–
310 bc). The Don was at this stage still something of a frontier between the Scythians
and Sauromatae (Sarmatians) and the estuary provided an ideal place for the Greeks
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