21. “Go Weep”
The Scythian king’s response to Darius’ challenge to either stand and fight or submit highlights the difficulty in bringing turbulent nomads to heel by forcing them to fight against their will. As reported by Herodutus, King Idanthyrsus wrote: “This is my way, O Persian. I have never fled in fear from any man and I do not flee from you now … We have neither cities nor cultivated land for which we might be willing to fight with you, fearing that they might be taken or ravaged … As for lords, I recognize only my ancestors Zeus and Hestia … As to you calling yourself my lord, I tell thee to ‘Go weep’“.
Darius had to give up and turn back, his invasion amounting to little more than an expensive and fruitless demonstration. Scythians were still raiding the Persian Empire centuries later until its destruction by Alexander the Great, and continued to raid Persia for centuries after that.