Histories

But their women pound cypress and cedar and frankincense wood on a rough stone, adding water also, and with the thick stuff thus pounded they anoint their bodies and faces, as a result of which not only does a fragrant scent come from them, but when on the second day they take off the ointment, their skin becomes clear and shining.

But as regards foreign customs, the Scythians (like others) very much shun practising those of any other country, and particularly of Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, as was proved in the case of Anacharsis and also of Scyles.

For when Anacharsis was coming back to the Scythian country after having seen much of the world in his travels and given many examples of his wisdom, he sailed through the Canakkale Bogazi (strait), Canakkale, Marmara, Turkey, Asia Hellespont and put in at +Cyzicus [27.9,40.4167] (Perseus) Cyzicus;

where, finding the Cyzicenes celebrating the feast of the Mother of the Gods with great ceremony, he vowed to this same Mother that if he returned to his own country safe and sound he would sacrifice to her as he saw the Cyzicenes doing, and establish a nightly rite of worship.

So when he came to Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia, he hid himself in the country called Woodland (which is beside the Race of Achilles, and is all overgrown with every kind of timber); hidden there, Anacharsis celebrated the goddess' ritual with exactness, carrying a small drum and hanging images about himself.