Debunking Pan-Turkic Myths: The Misappropriation of the Saka Tribe and Indo-European History

 Debunking Pan-Turkic Myths: The Misappropriation of the Saka Tribe and Indo-European History

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS, Freemason, Windows Sons MRA Member, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with Cybersecurity Speciality

The resurgence of Pan-Turkic and Neo-Ottoman mythology, propagated by figures like Mehmet Özgür Ersan, has given rise to wildly inaccurate claims regarding the origins of ancient tribes such as the Sakas and their supposed Turkish identity. This article seeks to dismantle the assertion that the Sag tribe—claimed to extend from Ireland to Japan—represents ancient Turks or that figures like Queen Tomyris belong to a mythical "Turanic" pantheon.

1. The Historical Context of the Sakas and Their Indo-European Identity

The Sakas, also known as Scythians, were an ancient Iranian people belonging to the larger Indo-European linguistic and cultural family. Historical records from ancient Persia, Greece, and China consistently describe the Sakas as speakers of an Eastern Iranian language, distinct from Turkic tongues. For example:

• The Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great explicitly names the Sakas as part of the Persian Empire, categorizing them alongside other Iranian peoples, not Turkic ones.
• Greek historian Herodotus, in his Histories, describes the Scythians (Sakas) as nomads of the Eurasian steppe, culturally linked to other Indo-European groups. Their reverence for deities such as Mithra (associated with the Sun) aligns with Zoroastrianism, an ancient Iranian religion.

The claim that the Sakas spoke Turkish or adhered to a "Sky God religion" lacks any historical or linguistic evidence. The "Sky God" (Tengri) was a Turkic spiritual concept emerging much later in history.

2. Misrepresentation of the Masagetae and Queen Tomyris

The Masagetae, a subgroup of the Sakas, have often been appropriated by Pan-Turkic narratives to bolster the claim that Queen Tomyris was a Turkish khatun (queen). However:

• Ancient sources such as Herodotus describe the Masagetae as a steppe-dwelling, horse-rearing people, consistent with Indo-Iranian customs. Their name, rooted in the Indo-European languages, bears no etymological connection to Turkic words.
• Tomyris herself was celebrated for her defiance of Cyrus the Great of Persia, a conflict rooted in the broader Iranian steppe culture, not Turkic. Attempts to link her lineage to figures like "Alper Tunga" are speculative fabrications unsupported by historical evidence.

3. The Appropriation of Other Civilizations

The mythologized narrative extends beyond the Sakas, with claims that the Cimmerians, Thracians, Etruscans, and even Chinese dynasties such as the Zhou were Turkish. These assertions are categorically false:

• Cimmerians: Archaeological evidence shows they were another Iranian-speaking people. Their migratory patterns and cultural practices align with other steppe Iranians, not Turkic tribes.
• Etruscans and Thracians: Both civilizations are recognized as part of the pre-Roman Italic and Balkan cultures, with no ties to Turkic ancestry. Genetic studies of ancient remains confirm their European origins.
• Chinese Dynasties: While there was interaction between Turkic nomads and Chinese states, claiming the Zhou or Han dynasties as "Turks" is anachronistic. The Zhou were a Sino-Tibetan people, entirely distinct from Turkic groups that emerged later.

4. The Great Wall of China and the Steppe Peoples

The Great Wall of China was built over centuries to defend against various nomadic tribes, including Turkic groups, but also Huns, Xiongnu, and Mongols. To claim that "Turks" built the Wall is a deliberate distortion of its historical purpose and construction.

5. The Roots of Pan-Turkic Mythology

The ideology of Pan-Turkism, which seeks to unite Turkic-speaking peoples under a single cultural and historical narrative, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement often co-opts non-Turkic histories to bolster nationalist pride. By distorting the identities of ancient civilizations, Pan-Turkists undermine genuine historical scholarship.

For example:

• Pan-Turkists frequently misinterpret ancient texts and archaeological findings, projecting modern Turkic identities onto ancient peoples.
• The term "Turan" itself originates from Persian literature, specifically the Shahnameh by Ferdowsi, where it refers to a mythical land associated with nomadic adversaries of Iran, not a unified Turkic empire.

Conclusion

The legacy of the Sakas, Masagetae, and other ancient groups belongs to the Indo-Iranian cultural and linguistic sphere. Attempts to rebrand them as Turkish tribes ignore well-documented linguistic, genetic, and cultural evidence. By understanding the historical truth, we can appreciate the diverse heritage of the Eurasian steppe without succumbing to politically motivated distortions.

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Citations

1. Darius the Great, Behistun Inscription, trans. A.T. Olmstead.
2. Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.
3. Harmatta, János. "Scythians." Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. 2.
4. Mallory, J.P., and Adams, D.Q. The Oxford Introduction to Proto-Indo-European and the Proto-Indo-European World.
5. Di Cosmo, Nicola. Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History.
6. Grousset, René. The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia.