Main /
Names of Scythian-related Tribes/Groups
This list is intended to complement the set of personal names lists and to provide possibilities for any SCAdian seeking to create a persona whose byname reflects membership in/association with a particular cultural group.
Each name in this list appears in one or more of the following sources:
- Herodotus’ Histories
- Polyaenus’ Strategems
- Quintus Curtius Rufus’ History of Alexander the Great of Macedon
- Strabo’s Geography
- Polybius’ Histories
- Barry Cunliffe’s (2019) Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppes (Oxford UP)
"Scythian" Tribes/Groups
Many of the following are identified conflictingly as relating to the Scythians and also being distinct from them, depending on the text in which they appear.
Unless otherwise noted, each group name appears in a pluralized form.
| Group Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Agathyrsoi | |
| Agayoi | |
| Alazones | |
| Amadokoi, Amadopoi | |
| Aparni | |
| Argippaioi | |
| Arimaspôi | |
| Asii | possibly the same as the Asaioi |
| Attasii | |
| Auchatai | |
| Borystheneítai | |
| Boudínoi | |
| Gelae | |
| Gelônoi | |
| Gerroisi | |
| Daae | maybe? Strabo notes some doubt |
| Thyssegetai | |
| Iýrkai | |
| Issêdones | |
| Ixomates | |
| Kallipidai | |
| Katiaroi | |
| Legae | |
| Massagetai | |
| Matyketai | |
| Melanchlainoi | maybe? Herodotus says they’re not Scythians, but a few centuries later, Dio Chrystosom considers them to be; see Discourse 36 |
| Myrgétai | |
| Neuroi | |
| Xanthii | |
| Paloi | |
| Paralátai | |
| Pasiani | |
| Pissuri | |
| Sacae, Sakai, Zakatai | |
| Sacarauli | |
| Sauromatai | |
| Sirakoi | |
| Skolótoi | |
| Tauroi | maybe? It’s not clear to me if Herodotus means to include them among the Scythians or not |
| Tochari | Strabo includes them, but caution is necessary |
| Tráspies | |
| Chorasmii |
Sarmatian Tribes/Groups
| Group Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Alanorsoi | |
| Aorsoi | |
| Arii | |
| Arsyêtai | |
| Asaioi | possibly the same as the Asii |
| Iazyges | |
| Nabiani | maybe? Strabo includes this among Sarmatian tribes |
| Ourgoi | |
| Panxani | maybe? Strabo includes this among Sarmatian tribes |
| Reukanaloi | |
| Roxolanoi | |
| Saioi, Chaioi | |
| Sarmatai | |
| Saudaratai | |
| Sauromatai | |
| Torekkadai |