Iscetic Gold Goryt Plated, 4th B.C. Century Found at Chertomlyk Mound near Nikopol, Dnieper Region, Russia. A goryt is a carry bag for both bows and arrows.

Scythian Gold Goryt Overlay, 4th Century BC

Found in the Chertomlyk Barrow near Nikopol, Dnieper Area, Russia. A goryt is a carrying case for both bow and arrows (diagram).

Ancient Scythia was centered on the Pontic-Caspian steppe and ranged from modern Kazakhstan to the Baltic coast of modern Poland and to Georgia. The identities of the nomadic peoples of the steppes is often uncertain, and the term “Scythian” should often be taken loosely. In the earlier period Scythian art included very vigorously modeled stylized animal figures, shown singly or in combat, that had a long-lasting and very wide influence on other Eurasian cultures as far apart as China and the European Celts. As the Scythians came in contact with the Greeks at the Western end of their area, their artwork influenced Greek art, and was influenced by it.

The Scythians were known for their horsemanship and the equipment of a Scythian warrior was minimal, limited to what could be carried while riding or in hand-to-hand combat. Their abilty to launch a sudden attack and withdraw quickly was their best defense, hence their light weapons, easy to handle (e.g. a bow and arrow, a sword, and possibly a shield).