<P> The Scythians ( / ˈsɪθi. ən / or / ˈsɪði. ən / ; from Greek Σκύθης , Σκύθοι ) , also known as Scyth , Saka , Sakae , Sai , Iskuzai , or Askuzai , were Eurasian nomads , probably mostly using Eastern Iranian languages , who were mentioned by the literate peoples surrounding them as inhabiting large areas in the central Eurasian steppes from about the 9th century BC up until the 4th century AD . The `` classical Scythians '' known to ancient Greek historians , agreed to be mainly Iranian in origin , were located in the northern Black Sea and fore - Caucasus region . Other Scythian groups documented by Assyrian , Achaemenid and Chinese sources show that they also existed in Central Asia , where they were referred to as the Iskuzai / Askuzai , Saka ( Old Persian : Sakā ; New Persian / Pashto : ساکا ‎ ; Sanskrit : शक Śaka ; Greek : Σάκαι ; Latin : Sacae ) , and Sai ( Chinese : 塞 ; Old Chinese : * sʕək ) , respectively . </P>
<P> The Scythians ( / ˈsɪθi. ən / or / ˈsɪði. ən / ; from Greek Σκύθης , Σκύθοι ) , also known as Scyth , Saka , Sakae , Sai , Iskuzai , or Askuzai , were Eurasian nomads , probably mostly using Eastern Iranian languages , who were mentioned by the literate peoples surrounding them as inhabiting large areas in the central Eurasian steppes from about the 9th century BC up until the 4th century AD . The `` classical Scythians '' known to ancient Greek historians , agreed to be mainly Iranian in origin , were located in the northern Black Sea and fore - Caucasus region . Other Scythian groups documented by Assyrian , Achaemenid and Chinese sources show that they also existed in Central Asia , where they were referred to as the Iskuzai / Askuzai , Saka ( Old Persian : Sakā ; New Persian / Pashto : ساکا ‎ ; Sanskrit : शक Śaka ; Greek : Σάκαι ; Latin : Sacae ) , and Sai ( Chinese : 塞 ; Old Chinese : * sʕək ) , respectively . </P>
a scythian nomad of central asia would have also been known as
a scythian nomad of central asia would have also been known as
Iskuzai / Askuzai , Saka
Iskuzai / Askuzai , Saka