Herodotus

Almost every written primary source that is still around today regarding the Scythian culture derives from the historical accounts of Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian who spent much time accounting for the lifestyle and war techniques of the Scythians, though with much bias present throughout. In many cases he wasn't physically around the Scythians so much of his later works were second hand accounts.

Herodotus portrays the Scythians as being "savages"  who committed many atrocities and performed many acts of human indecency. He accounts many cases of human sacrifice and documented the "horrific" customs associated witht he death of nobility that "is unprecedented in the civilised world". His works however come from an entirely Greek perspective and evident bias is placed upon the Scythians, who were likely just as barbaric as the Greeks or Romans were. Archaeological breakthroughs that have occurred in recent times are shedding a slightly less "barbaric" light upon the Scythians, showing that they may have had a quite rich and in-depth culture that revolved around more things than simply killing people and were in fact master metal workers whose golden artifacts rival metal workers today

Bust of Herodotus