Ariapeithes (Scythian: Ariyapaiϑah;^[1][2][3][4] Ancient Greek: Αριαπειθης, romanized: Ariapeithēs) was a king of the Scythians in the early 5th century BCE.^[5]

Ariapeithes's name originates from the Scythian name *Ariyapaiϑah, and is composed of the terms *Ariya-, meaning “Aryan” and “Iranian,” and *paiϑah-, meaning “decoration” and “adornment.”^[1][2][3][4]

Ariyapaiϑah had three wives, each of whom bore him one son:^[6]

• an unnamed Greek woman from Istria, who became the mother of Skula
• an unnamed daughter of the Thracian king Tērēs I, who became the mother of Uxtamazatā
• a Scythian woman named Hupāyā (Ancient Greek: Οποιη, romanized: Opoiē; Latin: Opoea), who became the mother of Varika (Ancient Greek: Ορικος, romanized: Orikos; Latin: Oricus)

Ariyapaiϑah was treacherously killed by Spargapaiϑah, the king of the Agathyrsi,^[7] after which Skula became the king of the Scythians, and took his stepmother Hupāyā as one of his wives.^[6]