inhabits the confines of the Palus Maeotis； and is different from
all other races。 Their women mount on horseback； use the bow； and
throw the javelin from their horses； and fight with their enemies as
long as they are virgins； and they do not lay aside their virginity
until they kill three of their enemies； nor have any connection with
men until they perform the sacrifices according to law。 Whoever
takes to herself a husband； gives up riding on horseback unless the
necessity of a general expedition obliges her。 They have no right
breast； for while still of a tender age their mothers heat strongly
a copper instrument constructed for this very purpose； and apply it to
the right breast； which is burnt up； and its development being
arrested； all the strength and fullness are determined to the right
shoulder and arm。
18。 As the other Scythians have a peculiarity of shape； and do not
resemble any other； the same observation applies to the Egyptians；
only that the latter are oppressed by heat and the former by cold。
What is called the Scythian desert is a prairie； rich in meadows；
high…lying； and well watered； for the rivers which carry off the water
from the plains are large。 There live those Scythians which are called
Nomades； because they have no houses； but live in wagons。 The smallest
of these wagons have four wheels； but some have six； they are
covered in with felt； and they are constructed in the manner of
houses； some having but a single apartment； and some three； they are
proof against rain； snow； and winds。 The wagons are drawn by yokes
of oxen； some of two and others of three； and all without horns； for
they have no horns； owing to the cold。 In these wagons the women live；
but the men are carried about on horses； and the sheep； oxen； and
horses accompany them； and they remain on any spot as long as there is
provender for their cattle； and when that fails they migrate to some
other place。 They eat boiled meat； and drink the milk of mares； and
also eat hippace； which is cheese prepared from the milk of the
mare。 Such is their mode of life and their customs。
19。 In respect of the seasons and figure of body； the Scythian race；
like the Egyptian； have a uniformity of resemblance； different from
all other nations； they are by no means prolific； and the wild
beasts which are indigenous there are small in size and few in number；
for the country lies under the Northern Bears； and the Rhiphaean
mountains； whence the north wind blows； the sun comes very near to
them only when in the summer solstice； and warms them but for a
short period； and not strongly； and the winds blowing from the hot
regions of the earth do not reach them； or but seldom； and with little
force； but the winds from the north always blow； congealed； as they
are； by the snow； ice； and much water； for these never leave the
mountains； which are thereby rendered uninhabitable。 A thick fog
covers the plains during the day； and amidst it they live； so that
winter may be said to be always present with them； or； if they have
summer； it is only for a few days； and the heat is not very strong。
Their plains are high…lying and naked； not crowned with mountains； but
extending upwards under the Northern Bears。 The wild beasts there
are not large； but such as can be sheltered underground； for the
cold of winter and the barrenness of the country prevent their growth；
and because they have no covert nor shelter。 The changes of the
seasons； too； are not great nor violent； for； in fact； they change
gradually； and therefore their figures resemble one another； as they
all equally use the same food； and the same clothing summer and
winter； respiring a humid and dense atmosphere； and drinking water
from snow and ice； neither do they make any laborious exertions； for
neither body nor mind is capable of enduring fatigue when the
changes of the seasons are not great。 For these reasons their shapes
are gross and fleshy； with ill…marked joints； of a humid
temperament； and deficient in tone： the internal cavities； and
especially those of the intestines； are full of humors； for the
belly cannot possibly be dry in such a country； with such a
constitution and in such a climate； but owing to their fat； and the
absence of hairs from their bodies； their shapes resemble one another；
the males being all alike； and so also with the women； for the seasons
being of a uniform temperature； no corruption or deterioration takes
place in the concretion of the semen； unless from some violent
cause； or from disease。
20。 I Will give you a strong proof of the humidity （laxity？） of
their constitutions。 You will find the greater part of the
Scythians； and all the Nomades； with marks of the cautery on their
shoulders； arms； wrists； breasts； hip…joints； and loins； and that
for no other reason but the humidity and flabbiness of their
constitution； for they can neither strain with their bows； nor
launch the javelin from their shoulder owing to their humidity and
atony： but when they are burnt； much of the humidity in their joints
is dried up； and they become better braced； better fed； and their
joints get into a more suitable condition。 They are flabby and squat
at first； because； as in Egypt； they are not swathed （？）； and then
they pay no attention to horsemanship； so that they may be adepts at
it； and because of their sedentary mode of life； for the males； when
they cannot be carried about on horseback； sit the most of their
time in the wagon； and rarely practise walking； because of their
frequent migrations and shiftings of situation； and as to the women；
it is amazing how flabby and sluggish they are。 The Scythian race
are tawny from the cold； and not from the intense heat of the sun； for
the whiteness of the skin is parched by the cold； and becomes tawny。
21。 It is impossible that persons of such a constitution could be
prolific； for； with the man； the sexual desires are not strong；
owing to the laxity of his constitution； the softness and coldness
of his belly； from all which causes it is little likely that a man
should be given to venery； and besides； from being jaded by exercise
on horseback； the men become weak in their desires。 On the part of the
men these are the causes； but on that of the women； they are
embonpoint and humidity； for the womb cannot take in the semen； nor is
the menstrual discharge such as it should be； but scanty and at too
long intervals； and the mouth of the womb is shut up by fat and does
not admit the semen； and； moreover； they themselves are indolent and
fat； and their bellies cold and soft。 From these causes the Scythian
race is not prolific。 Their female servants furnish a strong proof
of this； for they no sooner have connection with a man than they prove
with child； owing to their active course of life and the slenderness
of body。
22。 And； in addition to these； there are many eunuchs among the
Scythians； who perform female work； and speak like women。 Such persons
are called effeminates。 The inhabitants of the country attribute the
cause of their impotence to a god； and venerate and worship such
persons； every one dreading that the like might befall himself； but to
me it appears that such affections are just as much divine as all
others are； and that no one disease is either more divine or more
human than another； but that all are alike divine； for that each has
its own nature； and that no one arises without a natural cause。 But
I will explain how I think that the affection takes its rise。 From
continued exercise on horseback they are seized with chronic
defluxions in their joints owing to their legs always hanging down
below their horses； they afterwards become lame and stiff at the
hip…joint； such of them； at least； as are severely attacked with it。
They treat themselves in this way： when the disease is commencing；
they open the vein behind either ear； and when the blood flows； sleep；
from feebleness； seizes them； and afterwards they awaken； some in good
health and others not。 To me it appears that the semen is altered by
this treatment； for there are veins behind the ears which； if cut；
induce impotence； now； these veins would appear to me to be cut。
Such persons afterwards； when they go in to women and cannot have
connection with them； at first do not think much about it； but
remain quiet； but when； after making the attempt two； three； or more
times； they succeed no better； fancying they have committed some
offence against the god whom they blame for the affection； they put on
female attire； reproach themselves for effeminacy； play the part of
women； and perform the same work as women do。 This the rich among
the Scythians endure； not the basest； but the most noble and powerful；
owing to their riding on horseback； for the poor are less affected； as
they do not ride on horses。 And yet； if this disease had been more
divine than the others； it ought not to have befallen the most noble
and the richest of the Scythians alone； but all alike； or rather those
who have little； as not being able to pay honors to the gods； if；
indeed； they delight in being thus rewarded by men； and grant favors
in return； for it is likely that the rich sacrifice more to the