Scythian Heraldry

There is very little "heraldry" recognizable in the western medieval sense, which can be frustrating for the SCAdian seeking a useful analogue.

There are, however, many frequent animal-style motifs that appear in a wide range of Scythian art:

  • Leaping/twisting hooved animals
  • Predators, usually griffons or big cats
  • Predators taking down prey (usually hooved animals)
  • Fish

The one arguably "heraldic" standard that we know of is the Sarmatian draco, which was described by Arrian as having a Scythian origin. (Arrian's description, in Greek, is available via the Perseus Digital Library, Tactica 35.1-4.)