Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the Persian invasion of Scythia affect Greek cities such as Byzantium?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Herodotus Herodotus, detail of a Roman herm probably copied from a Greek original of the first half of the 4th century bce; in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

According to the History written by the Greek historian Herodotus, the Persian invasion of Scythia around 513 BCE had a direct impact on various Greek cities in the region. As the Persian forces under Darius I advanced to cross the Bosporus and the Danube, the campaign resulted in the submission of several Greek cities, including Byzantium, to Persian authority.1

This expansion was part of a broader Persian strategy to secure a bridgehead in Europe. While Greek contingents within the Persian navy were utilized to construct the necessary pontoon bridges for the campaign, the news of Darius’s military difficulties against the Scythians prompted some Greek cities bordering the Bosporus and the Hellespont to rise in rebellion. In response, Persian generals suppressed these uprisings and further consolidated their control over the region, establishing a satrapy in southern Thrace and receiving the submission of Macedonia.21