Gender Identity in Ancient Scythia

Presenter(s)

Alex Furr

Abstract or Description

It is nearly ubiquitous in the popular Western imagination that misogyny and intolerance were omnipresent phenomena across human history. When considering classical studies, traditions of Greek and Roman discrimination toward women spring to mind. Slightly further east, however, in the Eurasian steppe lands of the Scythians, life for women was very different. In many Scythian tribes, women enjoyed an elevated status and were venerated by their society. They could transcend the typical housewife/child-bearer role assigned to so many women in the west to become mighty warriors and priestesses. Additionally, the enarei, a class of shamans born anatomically male who identified as female, were granted even greater reverence and served in essential roles in Scythian society. In this paper, I will be exploring the veneration Scythians showed to both those born anatomically female and enarei, as well as how heavily subjective Greek narratives may have influenced erroneous historiography.