The Scythians were a group of nomadic Iranian tribes who dominated the Eurasian Steppes for centuries. They were legendary for their horsemanship and archery, often credited with being among the first to master mounted warfare. Because they were nomadic, they left no cities, but their burial mounds, called 'kurgans,' have yielded incredible treasures. These include 'Scythian Gold'—intricately worked jewelry and ornaments featuring the 'animal style,' which depicted predators and prey in dynamic, interlaced combat. Scythian women also played a prominent role in society; archaeological evidence of armed female burials suggests they may have been the inspiration for the Greek legends of the Amazons. They were a formidable force that famously resisted the invasion of the Persian king Darius the Great by using scorched-earth tactics and constant harassment, proving the power of a mobile, decentralized military against a traditional empire.