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Scylas, likewise, the son of Ariapithes, many years later, met
with almost the very same fate. Ariapithes, the Scythian king, had
several sons, among them this Scylas, who was the child, not of a
native Scyth, but of a woman of Istria. Bred up by her, Scylas
gained an acquaintance with the Greek language and letters. Some time
afterwards, Ariapithes was treacherously slain by Spargapithes, king
of the Agathyrsi; whereupon Scylas succeeded to the throne, and
married one of his father's wives, a woman named Opoea. This Opoea
was a Scythian by birth, and had brought Ariapithes a son called
Oricus. Now when Scylas found himself king of Scythia, as he
disliked the Scythic mode of life, and was attached, by his bringing
up, to the manners of the Greeks, he made it his usual practice,
whenever he came with his army to the town of the Borysthenites, who,
according to their own account, are colonists of the Milesians - he
made it his practice, I say, to leave the army before the city,
and, having entered within the walls by himself, and carefully closed
the gates, to exchange his Scythian dress for Grecian garments, and
in this attire to walk about the forum, without guards or retinue.
The Borysthenites kept watch at the gates, that no Scythian might
see the king thus apparelled. Scylas, meanwhile, lived exactly as
the Greeks, and even offered sacrifices to the gods according to the
Grecian rites. In this way he would pass a month, or more, with the
Borysthenites, after which he would clothe himself again in his
Scythian dress, and so take his departure. This he did repeatedly,
and even built himself a house in Borysthenes, and married a wife
there who was a native of the place.
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