TheThyssagetae (Ancient Greek:Θυσσαγέται) were an ancient tribe described byHerodotus as occupying a district to the north-east ofScythia, separated from theBudini by a "desert" that took seven days to cross.[1] The Thyssagetae therefore seem to have occupied the southern end of theUral Mountains, north of theCaspian Sea.[2]
According to the 19th Century archaeologist SirEllis Minns, the form of their name suggests that the Thyssagetae spoke anIranian language, such asScythian orSarmatian, like the neighbouringMassagetae (on the north-east shores of the Caspian).[3]
The 15th Century chroniclerGiacomo Filippo Foresti (a.k.a. Jacobus Philippus Foresti da Bergamo) mentioned a river in the area named theThisageta, and Minns suggested that the name of theChusovaya (or Chussovaja) River in the Urals may be linked to the Thyssagetae.[3]
According to Ellis Minns, while Herodotus claimed that four rivers from the land of the Thyssagetae flowed into theMaeotis (Sea of Azov), he appears to have been mistaken.[3] He may have confused the Caspian Sea with the Maeotis, as one of the rivers, named the "Oarus", was almost certainly theVolga.[2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Minns, Ellis Hovell (1911). "Thyssagetae". InChisholm, Hugh (ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 26.