Tomyris (6th century BCE), the warrior queen of the Massagetae, was the woman who defeated and killed Cyrus the Great. In revenge for Cyrus’s trickery and the death of her son, Tomyris led her troops into battle against the Persians, routing them in what Herodotus described as the fiercest battle the “barbarians” had ever engaged in (they were all barbarians to Herodotus). Tomyris famously had Cyrus’s corpse beheaded and his skull made into a drinking cup. Or so the story goes.
Whatever the details of Cyrus’s death, the fact is that there were very definitely warrior women and queens among the ancient Iranian tribes of the Eurasian steppes, including the Massagetae. So we’re going to dress Tomyris as the warrior woman she was, basing our design on the excavated clothing from tomb burials. The illustrations above (by Angus McBride) show a noblewoman; a queen would probably have more bling and some gold armor.
Fortunately, the basic steppe costume of tunic + pants survives in many cultures across the continent, especially South Asia. The pieces we suggest:
1. Cotton kurti. Look for one like this that has a simple design—no modern prints—for an archaic look. Add leggings or narrow narrow trousers that will fit into boots (next).
2. Bearpaw boots in iced coffee.
3. Phrygian cap. Yes, it’s really a Robin Hood cap, but you’re going to turn it around so the point faces forward. That will make it a Phrygian cap, which is what the steppe tribes wore.
4. Short sword with sheath. At 19 inches long, this can serve as an excellent stand-in for the acinaces, the Scythian short sword. This one even comes with a handy strap so you can loop it onto your belt. (Wear a leather belt.)
5. Gold armor wristlets. You are a warrior, after all. And a queen.
6. Skull drinking cup. Yes, it’s supposed to be a Viking piece from a millennium and a half later, but the Scythians were also great metal workers, so we’ll let it slide. Carry this cup with you and tell everyone it’s the skull of Cyrus the Great. (This might not be a good idea if there will be any Persians at your party.)
