The Scythians are probably better-known and -celebrated in Eastern Europe than further west. One thinks of an early work of Sergei Prokoviev, the Scythian Suite. However, as an article in Discover, headed "Who were the Ancient Scythians?" explains, they had a major effect on Europe's early history. They were nomadic raiders, ruthlessly efficient in their deployment of cavalry, which they had developed into a sophisticated weapon. The article concludes:
Scythian metalwork was likewise varied and sophisticated, including many iron, silver and bronze works. But Scythian objects wrought in gold have always been particularly coveted, especially in Russia. The Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg, is home to possibly the largest and most valuable collection of Scythian objects. But evidently, that hoard wasn’t enough. In May of 2022, Russian forces occupying the city of Melitopol in Ukraine looted a history museum, making off with one of the country’s largest collections of rare Scythian gold. Its current whereabouts are unknown.
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