Skilurus

Skilurus (Ancient Greek: Σκίλουρος) was a Scythian king who ruled over the Scythians of the Crimean peninsula and surrounding territories in the 2nd century BC. He is a significant figure in the history of the region due to his efforts to consolidate Scythian power against external threats, particularly the Taurians and the Pontic Kingdom under Mithridates VI.

Skilurus established his capital at Neapolis Scythica, located near modern-day Simferopol, Crimea. He is known to have engaged in conflicts with Chersonesus, a Greek colony on the Crimean peninsula, likely attempting to exert control over its resources and trade routes. Accounts suggest that Skilurus employed both military force and diplomatic maneuvering to achieve his aims.

Historical sources on Skilurus are fragmented and primarily derive from ancient Greek texts and archaeological evidence. His reign is generally considered a period of relative strength for the Scythians of the region before the increasing pressure from Sarmatian tribes and, eventually, Mithridates VI's expansion led to the decline and eventual subjugation of the Scythian kingdom. The details of his life and reign remain subject to scholarly debate and ongoing archaeological investigations.