The Cimmerians possess one of the earliest identifiable names of any people in eastern Europe. Although little is known about them, it is known that they lived for a time north of the Black Sea before migrating to Asia Minor. Their name is thought to be derived from Gimirru, the Assyrian name for them, which means “people traveling back and forth.”
ORIGINS
The Cimmerians are mentioned in Homeric texts, probably written in the ninth century B. C.E. Yet not until the eighth century did they become an identifiable people. It is not known where they originated, but their homeland in Europe was in present-day southern Ukraine extending into southwestern Russia. They may have been related to the Thracians.
Eighth century Scythians arrive in Cimmerian territory between Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
C. 720 Cimmerians driven from Europe into Asia.
714 Cimmerians attack Kingdom of Urartu. c. 650 Cimmerians at height of power in Asia Minor
LANGUAGE
The language of the Cimmerians is not known. It is assumed they were Thracian, speaking a Thraco-Illyrian language, or Indo-Iranian, possibly speaking an Iranian dialect related to other steppe peoples of their period.
HISTORY
Probably about 720 b. c.e. the Cimmerians were driven out of Europe across the Caucasus Mountains into Asia. It is generally believed that they led an attack on the kingdom of Urartu (or Van) ruled by King Rusa in present-day Armenia in about 714 b. c.e. After being defeated by the Assyrians under Sargon II, they headed westward into Asia Minor, where in 696-695 B. C.E. they conquered the Phrygians led by King Midas, who reportedly committed suicide after defeat. In 652 b. c.e. the Cimmerians also conquered the Lydians of the city of Sardis in Lydia. During the next decade the Cimmerians raided towns of the Aeolians and Ionians, Greeks who had settled in western Asia Minor.
After 640 b. c.e. the Cimmerians under Lygdamis led two campaigns against the Assyrians but were defeated. The Lydians, led by Alyattes, defeated them in about 610 b. c.e., and the Cimmerians disappeared from the historical record. Survivors possibly settled in Cappadocia in present-day north-central Turkey, as suggested by the Armenian name for the region, Gamir.
In the meantime some Cimmerians possibly migrated westward to the Hungarian Plain and survived there until the end of the sixth century.
CULTURE
Although no definitive connection has been made, the Cimmerians are associated with a number of archaeological sites and early steppe cultures. It is assumed they originally lived a nomadic life similar to that of other steppe peoples. In addition to horses they probably traveled with domesticated cows, sheep, and goats. They probably fought as mounted archers as other steppe peoples of western Asia and eastern Europe did. When settled in their European homeland north of the Black Sea, they adopted a partly sedentary agricultural existence, supplementing their economy through trading and raiding.
The name Crimea, identifying both a peninsula extending into the Black Sea and an administra
Cimmerians time line
World History
