Scythia

The people of this land were mounted nomads, feared and restless warriors who posed a perpetual threat to contemporary settled neighbors by whom they were regarded as bloodthirsty barbarians. Yet they were also consummate gold-workers who created a vigorous and realistic style of art with naturalistic motifs based on animals to adorn both themselves and their horses. The Scythians are finally beginning to settle down into large cities and small villiages.