APIFantasy | Myth and Folklore Anthology

Ancient Scythian Mythology

Scythia was a region in Central Asia that is now considered modern-day Siberia. It was inhabited by individuals known as Scythians, who were a group of ancient tribes consisting of nomadic warriors. The experienced a period of prosperity from 800 BC to 300 AD. Many other civilizations knew of them because they were great warriors and best known for their achievement of perfecting archery while riding a horse without the use of stirrups or saddles. 

There are conflicting origins about Scythia, with some believing that they originally inhabited Asia, but were pushed out due to territorial disputes. Others claim that they moved from modern-day Armenia and further south along India's western border.

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DEITIES

Please note that a lot of the deities in this list did not have proper names so they are referred to by titles that indicate a quality, family relationship, etc.

The Scythian pantheon consisted of three ranks that were typically of Indo-Iranian origin (the following deities are placed in the order of their rank).

Tapatī́: goddess of heat, fire, and the hearth (similar to Hestia of Greek mythology). She considered a symbol of supreme authority, being referred to as the guardian of the king and "the Queen of the Scythians".

Api: earth and water mother (similar to Gaia of Greek mythology). She is a primordial goddess who gave birth to the first inhabitants of the world. Her name is often connected to "water' because her purpose insinuates that she nourishes and heals people.

Papaios: consort of Api (similar to Zeus of Greek mythology). He was considered to be a supreme god.

Dargatavah: the first king of the Scythians (similar to Herakles in Greek mythology). He is typically depicted as the Scythians' ancestor, and his birth represented the union between the heaven and earth. 

Gaiϑāsūra: believed to be the god of the sun (similar to Apollo in Greek mythology). He is believed to be depicted as a solar god riding a horse drawn carriage.

Artimpasa / Argimpasa / Astára: patron of fertility (believed to be equated with Aphrodite in Greek mythology). She is also represented as a goddess of warfare, vegetation, and priestly force. She was also considered the guardian of laws and marriage.

Ares: god of war.

Thagimasádas: god of the seas (similar to Poseiden in Greek mythology).

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LEGENDS, MYTHS, AND FOLKTALES

CREATION OF THE PEOPLE - TARGITAUS

Targitaus (also known as Dargatavah) was the first man to inhabit Scythia, believed to be the offspring of Zeus and river deity, and therefore divine. He had three sons: Lipozais, Arpoxais, and Colaxais. After they all settled in Scythia, a divine event occurred. Golden objects began to fall from the sky, including a battle-axe and a plough. However, the downside of these solid gold items was that they would sometimes spontaneously combust.

Lipozais found the objects first and discovered whenever he attempted to touch it, it would burst into flames. Arpoxais helped his brother, but the flames persisted whenever they tried to touch it, so they could only admire it from afar. When the third son, Colaxais, approached it, the fire disappeared and remained dormant while he touched them. He was able to pick up all the objects and bring them back home. Subsequently, the other brothers forfeited their riches to Colaxais, uniting all of Scythia. Colaxais began the line of the Royal Scythians, with the golden objects remaining heavily guarded for the few following centuries.

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HERACLES AND THE VIPER MAIDEN

Heracles once drove into Scythia with his chariot, while it was uninhabited by mortals. He camped there for a night, but when he woke up in the morning, he discovered his horses had fled and were nowhere to be found. He entered a woodland, known as Hylaea, where he found a viper maiden, a creature with a snake tail and the top half of a woman. She had found the horses and proceeded to call them her own.

And so, she made a deal with Heracles that she would return the horses if he gave her children. He ended up fathering three sons before leaving Scythia, named Agathyrsus, Gelonus, and Scythes. She asked Heracles what she should do with them when they were older: return to Greece to live with him or stay in Scythia and rule. Heracles presented a laborious task for his son, saying if they failed the test, they had to go into exile.

Only Scythes managed to wear Heracles' belt and draw back his bow. Agathyrsus and Gelonus were banished, with Scythes becoming the first ancestor of the Royal Scythians.

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