Scythia Minor

Major ancient towns and colonies in Scythia Minor

Scythia Minor, "Lesser Scythia" (Greek: Μικρά Σκυθία, Mikrá Skythia) was in ancient times the region surrounded by the Danube at the north and west and the Black Sea at the east, corresponding to today's Dobruja, with a large part in Romania and a smaller part in Bulgaria.

The earliest description of the region is found in Herodotus, who named Scythia the region starting north of the Danube Delta. In the 2nd century BC decree of Histria honouring Agathocles, the region already was named as Scythia, while the earliest usage of the name "Scythia Minor" (Mikrá Skythia) is found in Strabo's early first-century Geography.

By the 7th century BC, several Greek colonies were built on its Black Sea shore, and the Greek reports state that the lands were inhabited by Thracians, from which later the Getae (Daci) tribe would branch out. During later times, the area also witnessed Celtic and Scythian invasions. It was part of the kingdom of Dacia for a period, after which the region was conquered by the Roman Empire (becoming part of the Moesia Inferior province. During Diocletian's reforms, it was split from Moesia as a separate province of "Scythia", being part of the Diocese of Thrace. After the partition of the Empire in 395, the province was retained by the Byzantine Empire. It retained the name Scythia Minor, until the region's loss during the early 7th century to the migrating Slavs and Bulgars. After that, the Classical name fell out of use.

See also

• List of ancient towns in Scythia Minor

References

• Dicţionar de istorie veche a României ("Dictionary of ancient Romanian history") (1976) Editura Ştiinţifică şi Enciclopedică, pp. 536-537

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