Description
Although the etymology of Colchis’ population is uncertain, the Greek historian Herodotus thought the kingdom was formed as an Egyptian colony in the 13th century BC. He therefore considered its inhabitants to be descended from both Egyptian colonists and the native Scythians, prior to the arrival of Greek traders around the 6th century BC. Over time, as Greek trading posts became cities, the ‘native’ population were largely subsumed by their culture, becoming uniquely ‘Colchian’. Eventually, its distance from the Greek homelands meant Colchis broke away entirely and then eventually into generally-independent fiefdoms. Despite all this upheaval, much of Colchis’ ingrained Greek culture was retained. As such, the noble classes of each city, although very much of mixed blood, fought in the traditional hoplite fashion.
