Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, was one of the most prominent rulers of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 to 486 BCE. His extensive inscriptions and administrative records offer valuable insights into his conquests, governance, and the diverse peoples within his empire. Among these peoples were the Scythians, known in Old Persian as the Saka. Darius's references to the Scythians provide crucial evidence of their Iranian identity and their place within the broader context of the Achaemenid Empire. This essay explores what Darius said about the Scythians and how these statements confirm their status as Iranic peoples, drawing on primary sources and scholarly analyses.
Darius's References to the Scythians
Darius's most notable references to the Scythians are found in the Behistun Inscription, a monumental relief and accompanying text carved into a cliff in western Iran. The inscription, written in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, recounts Darius's rise to power and his subsequent military campaigns. In this inscription, Darius lists the various peoples and regions under his control, including the Saka (Scythians):
"Saith Darius the King: By the grace of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside Persia; I ruled over them; they brought tribute to me; what I said to them, that they did; my law - that held them firm: Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdiana, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandara, India, the Saka (Scythians) beyond Sogdiana, the Saka (Scythians) beyond the sea, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, the Sparda, Ionia, those who dwell (on the islands), the countries of the mainland and the countries of the sea." (Behistun Inscription, Column 1)
This passage not only enumerates the territories under Darius's dominion but also distinguishes between different groups of Scythians, indicating their geographical distribution and significance within the empire.
The Iranian Identity of the Scythians
The identification of the Scythians as Iranic peoples is supported by linguistic, cultural, and historical evidence. The term "Saka" itself is of Iranian origin, and the Scythians spoke an Eastern Iranian language. Their cultural practices, including their nomadic lifestyle, horse-riding skills, and certain aspects of their art and material culture, align with those of other Iranian groups.
Darius's inscriptions and other Achaemenid sources consistently categorize the Saka alongside other recognized Iranian peoples, such as the Persians and Medes. This categorization is further corroborated by classical historians like Herodotus, who describes the Scythians in a manner consistent with other Iranian tribes. Herodotus, for instance, refers to the Scythians' use of similar languages and customs, noting their resemblance to the Persians in certain respects (Herodotus, Histories, 4.46-47).
Darius's Campaigns Against the Scythians
Darius's military campaigns against the Scythians highlight their importance and the challenges they posed to the Achaemenid Empire. One significant campaign was directed against the Saka beyond the Jaxartes (Syr Darya) River, as described in the Behistun Inscription and other sources. Darius's efforts to subdue these nomadic tribes were part of a broader strategy to secure the empire's northeastern frontiers and integrate these regions into the imperial administrative framework.
The accounts of Darius's campaigns emphasize both the martial prowess of the Scythians and their eventual incorporation into the empire. The inscription at Naqsh-e Rustam, another monumental relief created by Darius, depicts him triumphing over various defeated foes, including the Saka. This visual representation reinforces the narrative of imperial dominance and the integration of the Scythians into the Achaemenid world.
Conclusion
Darius the Great's inscriptions provide a valuable historical record of his interactions with the Scythians and their status within the Achaemenid Empire. By referring to the Scythians as the Saka and including them among the various Iranian peoples under his rule, Darius confirmed their Iranian identity. This identification is supported by linguistic, cultural, and historical evidence, which situates the Scythians firmly within the broader context of Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes. Darius's campaigns against the Scythians further illustrate their significance and the complexities of maintaining imperial control over such diverse and far-reaching territories.
References
Behistun Inscription. Translation by L.W. King and R.C. Thompson (1907).
Herodotus. Histories. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt, Penguin Classics (1954).
Diakonoff, I. M. The Paths of History. Cambridge University Press (1999).
Harmatta, János. "History of Civilizations of Central Asia." Volume II: The Development of Sedentary and Nomadic Civilizations: 700 B.C. to A.D. 250. UNESCO Publishing (1994).
Schmitt, Rüdiger. "Saka." Encyclopaedia Iranica. 2005.
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