The Scythians were an ancient nomadic people, who lived in the Russian steppe from 900 to 400 BC. They established a rich, nomadic civilization stretching from their homeland in Siberia as far as the Black Sea and the edge of China. Mobility and mastery of local resources were central to their culture and their achievements. Forerunners of the Sarmatians, the Huns, the Turks and the Mongols, the Scythians were feared adversaries and respected neighbours of the Assyrians, the Persians and the Ancient Greeks. Much of what we know about them comes from the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus, as they left no written records of their own. This book offers unique insights into the life and funerary beliefs of the Scythians, whose culture has been remarkably well preserved because of the unique conditions provided by the Siberian permafrost. Also included are many rare and recently discovered finds of personal garments and possessions made from gold, leather, fur and felt, revealing the legacy of one Russia's oldest indigenous civilizations. Drawing on the latest research, this new book will appeal to anyone interested in the ancient world and Russian culture..

Author Biography

Dr St John Simpson is a senior curator and archaeologist in the Department of the Middle East in the British Museum, London, and has excavated widely in the Middle East and Central Asia. His previous publications include Afghanistan: A Cultural History (2012) and Looted, Recovered, Returned: Antiquities from Afghanistan (2014).