--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Francesco Brighenti" <frabrig@...>
wrote:
>
> If Harmatta's hypothesis were true, that would be revolutionary:
> this would be the first written inscription in a Scythian language
> so far discovered west of Central Asia!
>
> Regards,
> Francesco
****GK: I doubt very much there's anything to this. Scythians don't
seem to have gone into any kind of literacy throughout most of their
history. The only inscription pertinent to one of their monarchs I am
aware of is a late 2nd c. one from Neapolis in the Crimea. It was found
on the pedestal of a ruined statue, and deciphered in 1999. It was
written in Greek, dated to the final years of the reign of Skilur(os),
and was intended to celebrate his predecessor. It also "gloried" in the
extent of Skilur's realm ("from Thracia to Maeotia"). Nothing similar
is known for times prior or posterior. Nor did they inscribe any of the
wonderful golden objects in their royal graves, some of which represent
aspects of their history known from Herodotus and other writers. ****