I once read that ‘Scythian’ was an ancient term for ‘barbarian’ or anybody not from a ‘civilized’ part of the Greco-Roman world...................
BCE is based on the birth of the little baby Jesus. Why does the author want to draw attention to this fact. He must really be a devout Christian.
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.