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| The '''Cimmerians''' were an ancient people, who lived in the south of modern-day ] (Crimea and nothern Black sea coast) and ] (Black Sea coast and Caucasus), at least in the ] and ]. Little is known about them, but they were mentioned in the writings of ] writer ], who says that they live in a land of fog and darkness at the borders of the known world. The historian ] gives more details about their history, describing the savagery of their plunder raids and their attack on ], when they occupied for a brief time the Lydian capital of ]. The Cimmerians as a distinctive people were almost completely wiped out by the ], who had migrated from ] under pressure from ]c tribes. Nomad Scythian ] tactics completely crushed the agricultural Cimmerian soldiers though it is expected that Scythians had ultimately adopted their Horse-riding skills from the Cimmeri. Many scholars think that originally Scythians and Cimmerians are ethnically same or related peoples. | The '''Cimmerians''' were an ancient people, who lived in the south of modern-day ] (Crimea and nothern Black sea coast) and ] (Black Sea coast and Caucasus), at least in the ] and ]. Little is known about them, but they were mentioned in the writings of ] writer ], who says that they live in a land of fog and darkness at the borders of the known world. The historian ] gives more details about their history, describing the savagery of their plunder raids and their attack on ], when they occupied for a brief time the Lydian capital of ]. The Cimmerians as a distinctive people were almost completely wiped out by the ], who had migrated from ] under pressure from ]c tribes. Nomad Scythian ] tactics completely crushed the agricultural Cimmerian soldiers though it is expected that Scythians had ultimately adopted their Horse-riding skills from the Cimmeri. Many scholars think that originally Scythians and Cimmerians are ethnically same or related peoples. | ||
| ]n annals mention the Cimmerians in the time of |
]n annals mention the Cimmerians in the time of ] and ]. | ||
| In the early twentieth century the home of the Cimmerians in the Caucasus led to their association with the ancient ]. This may be partially true. It seems that their leaders may have been of ] linguistic origin. | In the early twentieth century the home of the Cimmerians in the Caucasus led to their association with the ancient ]. This may be partially true. It seems that their leaders may have been of ] linguistic origin. | ||
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| The reputation of the Cimmerians for savagery, combined with their mysteriousness, led the fantasy author ] to identify his character ] as a Cimmerian. In the poem "Cimmeria" he describes the place as "land of darkness and the night", a gloomy place with dark woods, dusky silent streams and a leaden cloudy sky. | The reputation of the Cimmerians for savagery, combined with their mysteriousness, led the fantasy author ] to identify his character ] as a Cimmerian. In the poem "Cimmeria" he describes the place as "land of darkness and the night", a gloomy place with dark woods, dusky silent streams and a leaden cloudy sky. | ||
| Some ]ic and ]ic peoples |
Some ]ic and ]ic peoples consider themselves descended from the Cimmerians and some of their ethnic names seem to bear out this belief (e.g. ], ] or ], ]). This belief is, however, based on ]. The actual etymology of ''Cymru'' (i.e. ]) and ''Cwmry'' (i.e. ]) is firmly established as Celtic ''kom-broges'', meaning "fellow countrymen". As for the ], it is not even known for certain whether they were Celtic, Germanic or even, as a third alternative, from an earlier Western Indo-European layer connected with the ]. | ||
| In ], '''Gomer''' ('''גמר''', ] '''Gómer''', ] '''Gōmer''') is traditionally identified with the Cimmerians. | In ], '''Gomer''' ('''גמר''', ] '''Gómer''', ] '''Gōmer''') is traditionally identified with the Cimmerians. | ||
Revision as of 18:33, 20 September 2004
The Cimmerians were an ancient people, who lived in the south of modern-day Ukraine (Crimea and nothern Black sea coast) and Russia (Black Sea coast and Caucasus), at least in the 8th and 7th century BC. Little is known about them, but they were mentioned in the writings of Greek writer Homer, who says that they live in a land of fog and darkness at the borders of the known world. The historian Herodotus gives more details about their history, describing the savagery of their plunder raids and their attack on Lydia, when they occupied for a brief time the Lydian capital of Sardis. The Cimmerians as a distinctive people were almost completely wiped out by the Scythians, who had migrated from Central Asia under pressure from Altaic tribes. Nomad Scythian cavalry tactics completely crushed the agricultural Cimmerian soldiers though it is expected that Scythians had ultimately adopted their Horse-riding skills from the Cimmeri. Many scholars think that originally Scythians and Cimmerians are ethnically same or related peoples.
Assyrian annals mention the Cimmerians in the time of Sargon II and Esarhaddon.
In the early twentieth century the home of the Cimmerians in the Caucasus led to their association with the ancient Aryans. This may be partially true. It seems that their leaders may have been of Iranian linguistic origin.
The reputation of the Cimmerians for savagery, combined with their mysteriousness, led the fantasy author Robert E. Howard to identify his character Conan the Barbarian as a Cimmerian. In the poem "Cimmeria" he describes the place as "land of darkness and the night", a gloomy place with dark woods, dusky silent streams and a leaden cloudy sky.
Some Celtic and Germanic peoples consider themselves descended from the Cimmerians and some of their ethnic names seem to bear out this belief (e.g. Cymru, Cwmry or Cumbria, Cimbri). This belief is, however, based on folk etymology. The actual etymology of Cymru (i.e. Wales) and Cwmry (i.e. Cumbria) is firmly established as Celtic kom-broges, meaning "fellow countrymen". As for the Cimbri, it is not even known for certain whether they were Celtic, Germanic or even, as a third alternative, from an earlier Western Indo-European layer connected with the Ligurians.
In Abrahamic religion, Gomer (גמר, Standard Hebrew Gómer, Tiberian Hebrew Gōmer) is traditionally identified with the Cimmerians.