A group of Indo-European tribes that briefly occupied part of Asia Minor in the 7th century bc before being driven out by the Medes. They subsequently established a kingdom in southern Russia and traded with the Greek cities of the Black Sea, but in about the 2nd century bc were compelled to move into the Crimea by the related Sarmatian tribe. They were a nomadic people, famed for their horsemanship and their skill as archers. When Darius I (the Great) attempted to subdue them in c.512 bc, they successfully adopted a scorched-earth policy and c.325 bc they crushed a large detachment of Macedonian troops before making peace with Alexander the Great. The graves of Scythian kings and nobles have revealed many objects of gold and bronze, which bear witness to outstanding technical and artistic skill.