Sacae

• a people of Northern Asia, a part of the Scythians, Mel. 3, 7, 1; Plin. 6, 17, 19, § 50; Curt. 5, 9, 5; 7, 4, 6; Cat. 11, 6.—In sing.: Săces (Σάκης), Claud. Laud. Stil. 1, 157.

SACAE[SCYTHIA]

(Σάκαι). One of the most numerous and most powerful of the Scythian nomadic tribes, who had their abodes east and northeast of the Massagetae, as far as Serica, in the steppes of Central Asia, which are now peopled by the Kirghiz Khasaks, in whose name that of their ancestors is traced by some geographers. They were very warlike, and excelled especially as cavalry and as archers both on horse and foot. The name of the Sacae is often used loosely for other Scythian tribes, and sometimes for the Scythians in general (Herod.iv. 6; v. 113). See Scythia.

• Hdt. 7.9
• Cyrus' designs against them: Hdt. 1.153
• tribute to Persia: Hdt. 3.93
• at Marathon: Hdt. 6.113
• in Xerxes' army: Hdt. 7.64
• as marines in Xerxes' fleet: Hdt. 7.184
• with Mardonius at Plataea: Hdt. 9.31
• their cavalry there: Hdt. 9.71
• Masistes' design for a rebellion of the Sacae: Hdt. 9.113