(p. 023)

At an early period in the history of Greece, we hear of colonies
established on the northern shore of the Pontus Euxinus or Hospitable
Sea, as they named the Black Sea. We may even now recognize some of
the names of those colonies, such as Odessos, at the mouth of the Bug,
Tyras, at that of the Dniester, and Pityas where Colchis, the object
of the search of Jason and his fellow Argonauts, is supposed to have
been. In the fourth century before our era, some of these colonies
united under a hereditary _archon_ or governor, probably for the
purpose of securing better protection against the barbarians who dwelt
further inland.

The Greeks mention these barbarians as the Scythians, and divided them
into three classes. The agricultural Scythians dwelt in the black
earth belt, near the Dnieper; the nomad Scythians lived at some
distance to the east of them, and the royal Scythians occupied the
land around the Sea of Azof.

Learned men of Russia have made many excavations on the spots where
the Greek settlements once stood, during the past century. They have
been rewarded by finding many works of art, illustrating the mode of
living of the Scythians. They have been placed, and may be seen (p. 024)
in the Hermitage museum of St. Petersburg. Among these relics of the
past are two beautifully engraved vases, one of gold, the other of
silver. The Scythians on the silver vase wear long hair and beards,
and are dressed in gowns or tunics, and bear a close resemblance to
the Russians of our time. These vases and other ancient objects
confirm what is said about these people by Herodotus, a Greek
historian who lived in the fourth century before Christ.

We learn from him that the Scythians worshiped a sword stuck into the
ground, representing the god of war, and that they made human
sacrifices. They drank the blood of the first enemy killed in battle,
scalped their prisoners, and used their skulls as drinking cups. In
the course of time the Greek civilization exerted its influence, and
penetrated to tribes dwelling much further in the north, as is shown
by the antiquities found in the government of Ekaterinoslaf.

The _orbis terrarum_ or world so far as it was known to the Greeks,
was centered about the Mediterranean; hence the name of that sea,
meaning Middle of the Land or Middle of the Earth. Beyond that there
was an unknown region, supposed to be inhabited by people of whom many
wond