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
The study of ancient peoples reveals a fascinating tapestry of shared culture, trade, and even ancestry across vast geographic regions. As an Iranian-American with Scythian ancestry and a lifelong passion for history, I have always been intrigued by the ancient Iranic Scythians—nomadic horsemen who ruled the steppes—and their connections to the Germanic Vikings, who dominated the seas and shores of northern Europe. These two groups, separated by thousands of miles, shared uncanny similarities in their warrior ethos, craftsmanship, trade networks, and spiritual beliefs.
This article explores these ties, showing how shared Indo-European roots and cultural exchanges created a kinship between the Iranic Scythians and the Germanic Vikings.
Indo-European Roots and Migration Patterns
Both the Scythians and Vikings trace their lineage to the Indo-European peoples, whose migrations began around 4000 BCE. The Scythians emerged as powerful nomadic tribes in the Eurasian steppes, spanning from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. Their linguistic and cultural roots were deeply tied to the Indo-European family, as seen in their shared vocabulary, mythology, and societal structures.
The Germanic tribes, ancestors of the Vikings, also derived from the same Indo-European stock. Linguistic studies reveal striking parallels between ancient Iranic languages, such as Avestan and Old Persian, and early Germanic tongues. For instance, the Proto-Indo-European term "deiwo" (god) evolved into Deyva in Avestan and Tīwaz in Proto-Germanic, showing shared spiritual frameworks.
Cultural similarities persisted as both groups settled into their respective territories, adapting to their environments while preserving shared traditions.
Shared Warrior Cultures
The Scythians were renowned for their prowess as horse archers, with their deadly composite bows and mastery of mounted warfare. The Vikings, by contrast, dominated naval combat and raiding, yet both cultures idolized the archetype of the fearless warrior. The Scythian gold-plated armor and Viking chainmail, while differing in material, symbolized similar ideals of valor and divine protection.
Interestingly, burial sites from both cultures reveal a shared emphasis on warrior graves, often containing weapons, tools, and treasures to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Archaeological finds from Scythian burial mounds (kurgans) in Siberia and Viking ship burials in Scandinavia demonstrate a similar belief in the journey to the afterlife, underscoring shared Indo-European spirituality.
Trade and Exchange Across Eurasia
The Silk Road and its predecessor trade routes connected the Scythian steppes to the Nordic lands, facilitating an exchange of goods, ideas, and even people. Scythians traded gold, horses, and textiles, which often made their way to Northern Europe. In turn, amber from the Baltic region—a prized commodity—traveled back to the steppes.
Artifacts provide tangible evidence of this interaction. For example, intricate animal motifs in Scythian art bear a striking resemblance to Norse designs, particularly the intertwined beasts found in Viking carvings. These similarities may stem from shared artistic traditions rooted in Indo-European culture, but they were undoubtedly reinforced through trade and cultural contact.
Spiritual Parallels: Sky Gods and Afterlife Beliefs
Both the Scythians and Vikings revered sky gods associated with war, fertility, and the natural elements. The Scythian pantheon, led by Papaios (a sky god akin to Zeus), closely mirrors the Norse reverence for Odin, the Allfather. Both gods were depicted as wise, powerful, and intimately involved in the fate of mankind.
Their shared emphasis on the afterlife is also noteworthy. The Scythians believed in an afterlife that required offerings and wealth to ensure safe passage, much like the Vikings' vision of Valhalla—a hall of warriors prepared for the final battle of Ragnarok.
Genetic and Linguistic Evidence
Recent genetic studies have uncovered connections between populations of the Eurasian steppes and Northern Europe. Ancient DNA from Scythian burial sites reveals a blend of Eastern and Western Eurasian ancestry, with notable genetic markers also found in Viking-age Scandinavians. These findings support the theory of long-standing genetic exchange across the steppe corridor.
Linguistic connections, though more abstract, further cement the link. The runic scripts used by early Germanic tribes may have been influenced by the steppe nomads' alphabets, such as the Sogdian script, an eastern offshoot of the Iranic language family.
Conclusion
The Scythians and Vikings, while geographically distant, embody the shared heritage of Indo-European peoples. Their warrior ethos, spiritual beliefs, and trade networks highlight the deep connections between these ancient cultures. As an Iranian-American with Scythian roots, I find profound inspiration in this kinship, which reminds us of the shared human story across cultures and epochs.
Understanding these connections is not just an academic exercise but a testament to the enduring bonds that unite humanity, even across time and space.
Citations
- Beckwith, C. I. (2009). Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present. Princeton University Press.
- Mallory, J. P., & Adams, D. Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Fitzroy Dearborn.
- Anthony, D. W. (2007). The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World. Princeton University Press.
- Price, N. (2020). Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings. Basic Books.
- Kristiansen, K., & Larsson, T. B. (2005). The Rise of Bronze Age Society: Travels, Transmissions and Transformations. Cambridge University Press.
- Allentoft, M. E., et al. (2015). "Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia." Nature, 522, 167–172.
- Brosseder, U., & Miller, B. K. (2011). The Archaeology of the Steppe: Methods and Strategies. Bonn University Press.
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