Histories

From Scythes son of Heracles comes the whole line of the kings of Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia; and it is because of the vessel that the Scythians carry vessels on their belts to this day. This alone his mother did for Scythes. This is what the Greek dwellers in +Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Pontus say.

There is yet another story, to which account I myself especially incline. It is to this effect. The nomadic Scythians inhabiting Asia (continent)Asia, when hard pressed in war by the Massagetae, fled across the Araxes [*](Herodotus' idea of the course of this river is uncertain; cp. Hdt. 1.202. He appears to extend the Araxes, which flowed from the west into the Caspian, into regions east of that sea.) river to the Cimmerian country (for the country which the Scythians now inhabit is said to have belonged to the Cimmerians before),

and the Cimmerians, at the advance of the Scythians, deliberated as men threatened by a great force should. Opinions were divided; both were strongly held, but that of the princes was the more honorable; for the people believed that their part was to withdraw and that there was no need to risk their lives for the dust of the earth; but the princes were for fighting to defend their country against the attackers.