June 11: World Lynx Day

Young Triptolemos was a particular favourite of harvest goddess Demeter. She had met the boy when she was looking for her missing daughter. He had been ill, and her aching mother’s heart had forced her to nurse him back to health. She then had introduced him to her secret “Eleusinian mysteries”, and sent him out to teach about sowing and growing. He’d been a welcome guest in most regions, but less so in far away Skythia. Skythians were known for two things: their battle skills (which is why in Athens, enslaved “Skythian archers” served as a police force), and their exquisite gold smithing. Triptolemos’ arrival, in a winged, golden chariot, immediately sparked jealousy, and the king even plotted to unalive the boy in his sleep, to steal his wheels. A furious Demeter transformed him into a ferocious lynx. She then sent Triptolemos on his way, leaving Skythia to its own devices, and that’s why – in the eyes of the Greeks - the Skythians would never reach a decent level of civilisation, and “Skythian” was an insult on its own.

Demeter and Triptolemus, Relief, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Scythian Archers, Brooch, British Museum, London, UK

Did you know...

• "Drinking like a Scythian" was a well known expression in the ancient world.