Hercules gave the woman his bow and belt before leaving. Up to that time, he had carried two bows, and he showed her how to use the new one and how to fasten the belt. The belt had a golden goblet attached to its clasp. After teaching her, Hercules handed both the bow and belt to her and departed.
The woman raised the three sons she carried in her womb. When they reached adulthood, she first gave them names: the eldest was called Agathyrsus, the second Gelonus, and the youngest Scythes. She then remembered Hercules’ instructions and decided to test her sons Hercules Searches for His Mares.
Testing the Sons
She asked each son to perform the trial Hercules had described. Two of them, Agathyrsus and Gelonus, failed to accomplish the task. Obeying Hercules’ orders, their mother sent them away from the land. The youngest, Scythes, succeeded in the test and was allowed to remain.
Scythes became the ancestor of the later kings of Scythia. Because of the golden goblet attached to the belt, the Scythians continued the tradition of wearing goblets at their girdles for generations. This story is told by the Greeks living around the Black Sea (Pontus) and emphasizes the origins of the Scythian royal line.
A Different Account of Scythian Origins
There is another version of Scythian history that many consider more credible. According to this account, the wandering Scythians once lived in Asia. There, they fought the Massagetae but were defeated. As a result, they left their homes, crossed the Araxes River, and entered the land of the Cimmerians. This area later became the country we now know as Scythia Sofia Day Trip.
When the Scythians arrived, the Cimmerian natives met in council. The people were divided on what to do. Some suggested leaving the land to avoid fighting a large and powerful army. Others, from the Royal tribe, advised staying and defending their homeland, even if it meant dying.
The Battle of the Royal Tribe
Neither side wanted to yield, so the two groups separated. The Royal tribe chose to fight the invaders, while the others withdrew without fighting. The Royal tribe fought bravely, determined to die rather than give up their homes. In the end, all the Royal tribe were killed. The Cimmerians buried them near the river Tyras, and the graves are said to still exist.
This story highlights the courage and loyalty of the Royal tribe and explains how the Scythians came to occupy the land of the Cimmerians. It shows both the heroic values of the early Scythians and the struggles they faced in establishing themselves in a new territory.
