In ancient times, the Saks were called in different ways. For example, Greek scientists called them Scythians, and in recent centuries the term “Aryans” has been widely used, referring to their tribes. Most historians agree that the Saks were an Indo-European ethnic group, although some sources of the past equate them with the Turkic peoples.
The Saka communities and their culture had a significant impact on the formation of new peoples of the lands that were under the rule of these nomads. Despite the fact that a lot of information has been preserved about the Sakas, many ambiguities and mysteries still shroud these mysterious tribes. How and when did this people appear? What was the difference between the Saks and their nomadic neighbors? What was their lifestyle like?
The Saka Horsemen
The appearance of the Sakas
In the first millennium BC, due to the merger of various tribes of the Bronze Age, a new ethnic group, the Saks, was formed. The ancestors of the Saks included representatives of the Andronovo culture. That is why the Saks had a pronounced Andronovo anthropological type of appearance.
This is confirmed in the writings of E. E. Kuzmina, where it is noted:
“The material culture of the Saks developed in the 8th-7th centuries BC on the basis of an older local culture known as Andronovo.”
The Saks belonged to Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes, but there was no unity in the dialect used among them. It is known that there were many dialects on the lands of the Sakas. Moreover, given the scale of the settlement of the tribes, scientists are inclined to believe that some of the Saks adopted the principles of a sedentary lifestyle, creating settlements, and subsequently preparing the basis for the emergence of many European peoples.
«Issyk Golden Man», ceremonial armor of the Saka king made of gold scales on a leather base / © Derzsi Elekes Andor / ru.wikipedia.org
Features of the ethnic group
The most important stage in the transition from primitive society to a new culture was the emergence of previously unknown forms of activity, in particular, nomadic cattle breeding. It allowed the Saks to advance into significant territories, increasing their numbers and strengthening the position of their people. Due to this, it becomes possible to create large tribal associations.
It is noteworthy that the Saks were not a homogeneous ethnic group. On the contrary, they were a huge tribal alliance. In the 8th-1st centuries BC, their territories stretched from present-day Tuva to Ukraine. All the nomads who lived in this territory were called Saks by the Persians, and the Europeans (for example, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus) — Scythians.
Evgeny Kray «Helmets «of the Saxon «types»
In the VI-V centuries BC, the formation of two groups of the Saka people took place. They occupied the lands of Central Asia and the Tien Shan. Persian scholars called them saki-tigrahuda and saki-khaumavarga.
Both of these large tribes were distinguished by their belligerence and harsh disposition. In Saka society, it was customary, at the first order of the commander, to rush into confrontation with the enemies who approached the borders. Not all ancient peoples dared to challenge these nomads.
Soldiers of the Achaemenid army, detail of the tomb of Xerxes I, circa 480 BC / © A.Davey / ru.wikipedia.org
The success of the Sakas
A significant part of the Sakas make a successful invasion of Drangiana, after which they create their own state — Sakastan. It occupied the lands of present-day Iran and Afghanistan. Of course, the possessions of other Saka communities extended beyond Sakastan.
British officer Robert Sandeman noted in his notes:
“The rapidly diminishing tribes of the Sajittae and Sacac are other of the more ancient races of Balochistan, easily recognizable in classical geography.”
Despite this information, the Sakas should not be equated with the Baloch people. Moreover, they represented only a small part of this ethnic group, which was due to the migrations of ancient nomads in the lands of Balochistan.
Eugene Kray «Saka-tigrahuda. Southern Aral Sea region. VI century BC»
The very name of these tribes reveals to us the peculiarities of their way of life and lifestyle. According to the researchers, the word “snake” is associated with the definition of a dog, fox, wolf and other derivatives.
It cannot be ruled out that the Saki got such a “name” because of the specific type of their combat helmets. They preferred to create this part of military attire with a certain “decoration”, for example, the image of a dog or a wolf with a gaping fanged mouth. Later, this detail became a distinctive symbol of the genus.
The Saka (Scythian) horseman from Pazyryk in Central Asia, V-IV centuries BC.
Saki in India
Despite the fact that historians often call the Saks nomads, this is not entirely true. The way of life of the tribes could be both nomadic and sedentary, depending on the region of residence.
Ancient records and tablets found in the Saka territories indicate that this people had a strict social hierarchy. In the information of the authors of the distant past, it also appears that there were kings, nobles and their subjects in the Saka communities.
In the late II — early I centuries BC, Saka units appeared in Northwestern India. This was the beginning of the formation of the Indo-Saka states. Local kings sought to expand the boundaries of their possessions. Over time, the Saka territories began to cover Gandhara, the Swat Valley, and most of Kashmir, reaching Pataliputra in the east.
The Saka rule in India lasted only a couple of centuries. In the 1st century AD, they began to be oppressed by the Kushans, tribes who moved from the north and later created the Kushan kingdom. The last Saka king was Rudrasimha III, who was defeated by the Indian ruler.
Rudrasimha III
The Saks were never able to establish their rule over the lands of India. The defeat of the tribes in this part of their territories marked the beginning of the decline of the power of the Saka communities in other parts of Asia. The Saks were indeed excellent warriors, but they were unable to create a truly strong state that could withstand the onslaught of powerful neighbors.
Today, the Saks are referred to as an ancient people, but they have become the ancestors of many modern ethnic groups. Genetic studies in recent years have shown that Saka impurities are present in many tribes of Central Asia, the French, Lithuanians, Romanians, even Slavs. Of course, the Saks have become only a part of our past, but it is not known what the present would be like if this people had not established their power in most of the lands of Asia and Europe in the distant past.