Scythian Bronze Arrow head - 30 mm (No reserve price)

Arrowhead pendant, the sophisticated ammunition of the advanced Scythian bows.

The Scythians, by the age of two, were already mounting a horse, and by five, they rode with ease. This, along with their mastery of the recurve bow and sophisticated arrows, was key to the military success of warrior men and queens who shot while riding, dressed in colorful clothing and scale armor.


And since this nomadic people from the 7th to 3rd centuries BC, originating from present-day Iran, lived in covered wagons and were engaged in herding across the prairies, desert steppes, and forests of southeastern Europe, it is natural that they developed advanced weapons such as the recurved bow and arrows for self-defense.

The best part is that the tips of their elaborately crafted arrows, 60-90 cm long, made of lightweight wood, bamboo, or reeds, were painted red, black, or with snake patterns so that the archer would know what poison the tip was impregnated with. Additionally, to the enemy, they would seem like snakes with sharp fangs flying through the sky.

Now then, don't think they used the poison of just any snake; only three were chosen:

Caucasian viper, with a triangular head, vertical pupils, and a sophisticated system of mobile fangs—long and hollow—that fold against the palate when the mouth is closed and unfold to attack. You can find it in southern Russia, Georgia, and northeastern Turkey.

➤ Long-nosed viper, the most dangerous in Europe, has an extravagant horn-shaped protuberance on its nose, long fangs (up to 13 mm), and venom that can be lethal to humans but tolerable in reptiles. If you want to see it, look for it in dry, rocky areas with low vegetation in the Balkans, Greece, and parts of Italy, etc.

➤ European viper, its head is triangular, it has vertical pupils, and an elegant central crest of rough scales with a matte finish. It usually only bites if disturbed; its bite is painful but rarely lethal. It lives in thickets, open forests, clearings, and paths from sea level up to 2,700 meters in altitude.

And even better, with that base toxin they prepared a more elaborate and effective recipe: the 'scythicon.' Note this: snake meat that has just given birth to decomposed offspring in the sun, its venom, blood, and human blood serum, all macerated in manure. A lethal potion with a terrible smell and a psychological impact on the enemy.

And it was an arrow that the opponent couldn't see coming because the bow was complex, about 120 cm long, with a retracted handle and curved arms with jagged ends, made from sheets of wood or horn, and it also had tendons or tails that allowed it to stretch up to 75 cm to maximize the arrow's acceleration and accuracy.

Seriously, the Scythians could take up to two years to have it ready for use, which means this tool was highly desired by other cultures.

And of course, the arrows were kept in a 'gorytos,' a leather case shorter than the bow, decorated with refined hunting scenes, embossed metal designs, and a metal cover to prevent the archer's skin from being scratched by one of the 75 tips of the venomous arrows it held.

Keep in mind that the Scythian warrior shot 12 of those modern arrows per minute, so he had to be careful not to suffer.

extreme heat
loss of temperature
sweats
dehydration
rigidity or
numbness

In short, the recurved bow and Scythian arrows were sophisticated weapons used to demonstrate their identity and defend their culture, which, two millennia later, remains a sign of connection with history and a symbol of technological advancement crucial for humanity's survival.

Disclaimer: I am sending this item from Spain via registered mail with a tracking number. If you receive it in an area with a special tax regime, your local customs might hold it while you pay any applicable fees, and this, as the seller, is beyond my control.