Issedones

The Issedonen were an ancient Central Asian and North Asian people. They lived according to Herodotus, " just across " the Massagetae.

Swell

The most detailed source are the histories of Herodotus. Herodotus data are partly based on the lost epic of Aristeas, the son of Kaystrobios who allegedly attended the Issedonen itself. The Issedonen are also used by Pausanias in connection with Delphi mentioned (1, 31, 2). Ptolemy calls the trading stations Issedonia Skythika and Issedonia Serika ( 6, 16, 7).

Location

The Issedonen Just south of Arimaspen, the gold Guarding Griffins and the Hyperboreans, north of these, the Okeanos extends the Arimaspen attacked the Issedonen, which in turn distribute the Scythians, which drive the Cimmerians, " who live at the southern seas" (Black Sea ) and so their incidence in Asia Minor and Egypt trigger ( histories 4, 13). After histories 4, 23 the Scythians live in a flat land with fertile soil. Beyond the Skythenlandes the soil is rocky and rough. After a big haul this barren land a mountain range is reached, the Argippaioi live at the foot of which are born bald. With these Argippäern the Scythians and the Greeks are at the Borysthenes in trade, but they need an interpreter. The land beyond the high mountains but is known only from the reports of Argippäer. East of the Argippäer live Issedonen. Only the Issedonen know something to report on the Hyperboreans ( Histories 4, 26 ), who live north of them.

Manners

The Issedonen regarded as just that women were equal to men found ( Histories 4, 26 ) The people should have operated ceremonial endo- cannibalism. When a man's death his meat was cut, mixed with the cattle and eaten by the relatives. The head was depilated, cleaned, and then gilded. This head was "like a graven image " worshiped him were great every year by the son sacrifices. Herodotus compares this with the Nativity of the Greeks ( Histories 4, 26 ).

Grave finds in Altai kurgans ( grave mounds ) appear to confirm this Endokannibalismus

Equating

After AN Bernschtam the Issedonen with the Wu -sun of Chinese sources are identical. They lived in the " Zungaria " ( Dzungaria between Altai and Tian Shan).