Cimmerians

Cimmerians, or CIMMERII, in Homer, a legendary people dwelling 'beyond the ocean-stream, where the sun never shines, and perpetual darkness reigns.' The name was also applied to a fabulous people who dwelt in caves between Baie and Cumæ. Hence the common phrase, 'Cimmerian darkness.' The historic Cimmerii were a people whose country lay between the Borysthenes (Dnieper) and the Tanais (Don), including also the Tauric Chersonesus (Crimea). The Cimmerian Bosporus (Strait of Yenikale) derived its name from them. Being driven out by the Scythians, they migrated to Asia Minor, dwelt there for some time, plundered Sardis, failed in an attempt upon Miletus, and were finally routed and expelled by the Lydian king Alyattes, some time after 617 B.C.