ハリカルナッソスのヘロドトスによれば、スキタイ人は7つの神と女神からなるパンテオン(ヘプタッド、神殿)を崇拝しており、彼はこれを古典的な古代ギリシャの神々と同じように解釈している。彼は8つの神々を3つのランクに分け、スキタイのパンテオンは典型的なインド・イラン系の構造であると述べている<ref>Macaulay (1904:314). Cf. also Rolle (1980:128–129); Hort (1827:188–190).</ref><ef>Cunliffe, 2019, p265–290</ref>。
The Scythian "Arēs," that is the Scythian war god equated by {{transliteration|grc|Hērodotos|italics=no}} of {{transliteration|grc|Halikarnāssos|italics=no}} with the Greek god [[Ares|{{transliteration|grc|Arēs|italics=no}}]], corresponded to the Iranian deity [[Verethragna|{{transliteration|ae|Vərᵊϑraγna|italics=no}}]], and might possibly have been an offspring of {{transliteration|xsc|Tapatī́|italics=no}}.{{sfn|Safaee|2020}} The Scythian and Sarmatian "{{transliteration|grc|Arēs|italics=no}}" was represented by an [[acinaces|{{transliteration|grc|akīnakēs}}]] sword planted upwards at the top of a tall square altar made of brushwood of which three sides were vertical and the fourth was inclined to allow access to it. The Scythian "{{transliteration|grc|Arēs|italics=no}}" was given blood sacrifices and his representation in the form of a sword are evidence of his military function.{{sfn|Raevskiy|1993|page=[https://archive.org/details/ScythianMythology/page/n19/mode/2up 20]}} The Scythian "{{transliteration|grc|Arēs|italics=no}}" was also a god of kingship, and the use of horses and of the blood and right arms of prisoners in his cult was a symbolic devotion of the swiftness of horses and the strength of men to this god who had similar powers.{{sfn|Campbell|1969|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-l5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA204#v=onepage&q&f=false 204]}}