Scythianism in Early Twentieth-century Russian Culture and the Scythian Theme in Russian Futurism

Abstract

This article considers the Scythian myth in Russian culture in the early twentieth century. The author explores the role of Scythian motifs in Symbolist poetry and its links to occult thought. The article also shows how Scythianism played an important role in the development of Russian Futurist poetry and aesthetics. The article concludes with a discussion of the persistence of Scythian themes in the aftermath of the Revolution of 1917.