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About the Sauromates it is told that, when the Greek battled the Amazons, who the Scythes called "oior-patha" or "men killers", which one can translate since oior is the scythian word for "man" and pata the word for "kill" - It is told, so I said, that the Greek after their victory in the battle of Thermodon put to sea and on three of their ships abducted all the Amazons they had captured and said women on the crossing stood up against the crew and killed them to the last man. However, since they were ignorant of ships they had no knowledge to use rudder, sails, nor oars.
This way after the demise of the sailors they drifted every which way the wind and the waves willed. Finally they reached the coast of the Palus Maeotis (today this part of the Black Sea is called Sea of Azov) and arrived at a place called Cremni or "the Crags", which is situated in the country of the free Scythes. Here they debarked and pressed on into habitated areas; they took possession of the first herd of horses they happened upon and on their backs they forayed pillaging into the lands of the Scythes.
The Scytes were unable to make sense to these raids - the clothing, the language, the whole people was unkown to them at all, even whence the ememy came from was enigmatic. On the assumption that they were young men about the same age, they engaged them in battle. Some of the corpses of those killed in action fell into their hands and so they found out the truth. On this they took counsel and resolved not to kill more of them, but to dispatch a band of young men to them, like in number to that of the women as far as they could guess. These were ordered to pitch camp near them and, whatever they saw them do to do likewise. If the Amazons advanced against them they were to withdraw and avoid battle. If they rested, the young men were to close in and pitch their camp as near as possible to them. All this they did, strongly wishing to come by offspring of so remarkable a race.
So the youngsters marched out and heeded the instructions received. Soon the Amazons discovered that not to their detriment one had come and refrained totally from hostilities aginst the Scythes. And now day by day both camps moved closer to each other. Both sides led the same life; having nothing but their horses and weapons, they had to maintain themselves by hunt and foraging.
At long last, chance brought two of them together - the young man easily reached the pleasure of the woman, who by signs (for they did not understand each other) indicated to bring the next day a comrade to this place where they had met and promised to bring another woman.
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So he did and the woman kept her promise. When the other youngsters heard what had taken place, they searched and found the grace of the other Amazons.
Subsequently both camps were united, the Scytes lived with the Amazons as their wifes, but were unable to learn the language of the women. But the women soon mastered the language of their men. Being able to communicate, the Scytes spoke to the women with these words. "We have parents and possessions. Lets give up this kind of a life. Lets return to our people and live with them. You will same as here be our wives and we promise to take no others."
But the Amazons replied: "We cannot live with your women - our customs are all to different from theirs. To draw the bow, to throw the javelin, to ride a horse, these are our arts. We do know nothing about womanly occupation. Your women, however, do nothing the likes but remain at home on their wagons, engage in womanly things and do not go out for hunt or the likes. Never would we be in concord with them. But if you truly want to keep us as your wives and in honest virtuousness behave against us, then go to your elders, tell them to give you your inheritance and return soonest to us and we will live here among ourselves."
The youngsters found this counsel to their liking and heeded it. They went and received their due, returned and reunited with their wives, who now spoke these words to them: "We are ashamed and afraid further to live in this country we are in. Not only have we stolen from your fathers but also have done great harm to the Scythes by our foragings. Since you are determined to keep us as your wives, grant us our wish: Lets leave this country together and lets settle across the Tanais."
Again the youngsters consented. They crossed the Tanais and travelled a distance of three days to the East of said river and one more march of three days to the North of the Palus Maeotis. Here they reached the country where they now live and took their abode there.
The women of the Sauromates continued from this day until today to retain their customs, frequently hunting with their husbands on horseback, many a time also unaccompanied, fighting in war, and wearing the same clothing as men. The Sauromates speak the language of the Scythes, but not quite correctly, since the Amazons had learned the language only incomplete. Their matrimonial law determines that a girl may not marry before having killed a man in battle. Off and on it therefore happens that a woman dies unmarried, having been unable to fullfill this condition during her lifetime.
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