Editing Scythians (section)

====West Asian influences on the Scythians====
The marital alliance, as well as the proximity of the Scythians to Assyrian-influenced states, placed the Scythians under the strong influence of [[Assyria#Culture|Assyrian culture]].{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=169}}{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=565}} Scythian culture and art absorbed various West Asian elements;{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=32}} Scythian dress and armour from this time, including in Cirscaucasia, reflect heavy influences from West Asia and the Iranian Plateau on Scythian culture during this period.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Sulimirski|1985|p=169}}|{{harvnb|Petrenko|1995|p=16}}|{{harvnb|Olbrycht|2000b|p=109}}|{{harvnb|Olbrycht|2000b|p=115}}}}</ref>

Scythian rulers began emulating West Asian kings by using [[luxury goods]] as status markers.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=100}}{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=31}}{{sfn|Petrenko|1995|p=18}} the spoils acquired by the Scythians as diplomatic presents or as plunder was used to enhance their status back in the Ciscaucasian Steppe.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=114}} In addition, artistic concepts also enhanced the range of the craftsmen serving the Scythian aristocracy:{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=115}} the Scythians had absorbed West Asian tastes and customs{{sfn|Jacobson|1995|p=37}} such as the concept of the divine origin of royal power,{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=569}} and as their material culture was absorbing West Asian elements, so was their art absorbing West Asian artistic modes of representing these.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=100}}{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=32}}

[[File:KulObaTreasure.jpg|thumb|The Scythian [[Snake-Legged Goddess]] and other artifacts, from [[Kul-Oba]].]]
Even West Asian horses were imported to Ciscaucasia.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=114}} It was also only when the Scythians expanded into West Asia that they became acquainted with iron smelting and forging, before which they were still a Bronze Age society until the late 8th century BC.{{sfn|Jettmar|1971|p=8}} The Scythians also borrowed the use of the [[Chariot|war chariots]]{{sfn|Petrenko|1995|p=16}} and of [[scale armour]] from West Asians,{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=156}}{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=581}} and Scythian warriors themselves obtained [[iron]] weapons and military experience during their stay in West Asia.{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=174}} Within the [[Scythian religion]], the goddess [[Artimpasa]] and the [[Snake-Legged Goddess]] were significantly influenced by the Mesopotamian and Syro-Canaanite religions.{{sfn|Ustinova|1999|pages=79-80}}