Editing Scythians (section)

===Commercial activities===
As result of these expansionist ventures, the Scythian kingdom implemented an economic policy through a division of labour according to which: the settled populations of the forest steppe produced grain, which they were now obliged to offer to the Scythian aristocracy as tribute, and which was then shipped through the Borysthenēs and Hypanis rivers to Pontic Olbia, Tyras, and Nikōnion, where these Greek cities traded the grain at a profit for themselves.{{sfn|Sulimirski|Taylor|1991|p=583}}{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=55}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} The outbreak of the [[Peloponnesian War]] in Greece proper in 431 BC further increased the importance of the Pontic Steppe in supplying grain to Greece.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=105}} The Scythians also sold cattle and animal products to the Greeks.{{sfn|Olkhovsky|1995|p=66}}

[[File:Skythian archer plate BM E135 by Epiktetos.jpg|thumb|An Attic [[Red-figure pottery|red-figure vase-painting]] of a [[Scythian archer]]. [[Epiktetos]], 520–500 BC.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=William J. |title=Dining in a Classical Context |date=1991 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-10194-8 |page=61 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=imbzXeIimVUC&pg=PA61 |language=en}}</ref>]]
The Greek cities in the Aegean Sea had started to import slaves from Scythia immediately after the end of the [[Persian invasions of Greece]]. The Greek cities acted as slave trade hubs but did not themselves capture slaves, and instead depended on the Scythian rulers to acquire slaves for them:{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=86}}{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=92}} the Scythian aristocrats nonetheless still found it profitable to acquire slaves from their subordinate tribes or through military raids in the forest steppe.{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=86}}{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=92}}{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=52}} One group of slaves was bought by the city of Athens,{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=87}} where they constituted [[Scythian archers|an organisation of public slaves]] employed by the city as an urban police force.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=52-53}}

====Greek influence====
The Greek colonies were the main suppliers of [[luxury goods]] and art to the Scythians.{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=158}} Trade with the Greeks especially created a thriving demand for [[wine]] in Scythia:{{sfn|West|2002|p=441}} In exchange for slaves, the Greeks sold various consumer goods to the Scythians, the most prominent among these being [[wine]]. The island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, especially, produced wine to be sold to the Scythians, in exchange of which slaves from Scythia were sold in the island's very prominent slave market.{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=52}} Other commodities sold by the Greeks to the Scythians included [[Textile|fabrics]], vessels, decorations made of precious metals, bronze items, and black burnished pottery.{{sfn|Olkhovsky|1995|p=66}}

Under these conditions, the grain and slave trade continued, and Pontic Olbia experienced economic prosperity.{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}}{{sfn|Cunliffe|2019|p=52}} The Scythian aristocracy also derived immense revenue from these commercial activities with the Greeks,{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=104}} most especially from the grain trade,{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=85}}{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=91}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} with Scythian coins struck in Greek cities bearing the images of ears of grain.{{sfn|Parzinger|2004|p=85}} This prosperity of the Scythian aristocracy is attested by how the lavish aristocratic burials progressively included more relatives, [[Retinue|retainers]], and were richly furnished with [[grave goods]], especially imported ones, consisting of gold jewellery, silver and gold objects, including fine Greek-made [[toreutics]], vessels and jewellery, and [[Gold plating|gold-plated]] weapons.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{harvnb|Melyukova|1990|p=105}}|{{harvnb|West|2002|p=453}}|{{harvnb|Parzinger|2004|p=91}}|{{harvnb|Batty|2007|p=210}}}}</ref> Scythian commoners however did not obtain any benefits from this trade, with luxury goods being absent from their tombs.{{sfn|Melyukova|1990|p=105}}

[[File:Scythian Warrior with Axe, Bow, and Spear Possibly Greek Sculptor 4th-2nd century BCE (Archaic) marble with red paint and gold leaf.jpg|thumb|Scythian warrior with axe, bow, and spear. Possibly Greek work 4th-2nd century BCE (archaic). Marble with red paint and gold leaf]]
A consequence of the Scythians' close contacts with Greeks was a progressive [[Hellenization|Hellenisation]] of the Scythian aristocracy.{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=158}}{{sfn|Ivantchik|2018}} The Greek supply of luxury goods also influenced Scythian art.{{sfn|Sulimirski|1985|p=158}} Greek influence also shaped the evolution of Scythian weapons and horse harnesses: the Scythian composite armour, for example, was fitted with Greek-type [[Spaulder|shoulder guards]] in the 5th century BC.{{sfn|Melyukova|1995|p=34}}