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It is reported of the Sauromatae, that when the Greeks fought with
the Amazons, whom the Scythians call Oior-pata or
"man-slayers," as it may be rendered, Oior being Scythic for
"man," and pata for "to slay" - It is reported, I say, that
the Greeks after gaining the battle of the Thermodon, put to sea,
taking with them on board three of their vessels all the Amazons whom
they had made prisoners; and that these women upon the voyage rose up
against the crews, and massacred them to a man. As however they were
quite strange to ships, and did not know how to use either rudder,
sails, or oars, they were carried, after the death of the men, where
the winds and the waves listed. At last they reached the shores of the
Palus Maeotis and came to a place called Cremni or "the Cliffs,"
which is in the country of the free Scythians. Here they went
ashore, and proceeded by land towards the inhabited regions; the first
herd of horses which they fell in with they seized, and mounting upon
their backs, fell to plundering the Scythian territory.
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