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| Iranic Scythian Clothing on a Kazakh Statue |
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
As an Iranian-American who has spent a lifetime understanding my Scythian ancestry and the complexities of Central Asian history, I find it profoundly troubling when historical revisionism appropriates the rich legacy of the Iranic Scythians and Sarmatians to suit modern nationalist agendas. The recent trend of adorning Kazakh statues with Iranic Scythian clothing to claim their heritage is not just historically inaccurate but an affront to the legacy of an ancient people who laid the foundations of Indo-Iranian culture.
To put this issue into perspective, imagine if, after my death, my enemies—who had no historical or cultural connection to my heritage—took over my land and began using statues to depict their people wearing my clothes. It would not make them me, nor would it grant them rightful ownership of my identity. This is precisely what we see today with attempts to erase the distinctly Iranic origins of Scythian culture in favor of a fabricated Kazakh narrative.
The Iranic Scythians: Guardians of the Steppes
The Scythians were an Iranic-speaking people who dominated the Eurasian steppes for centuries, from the Black Sea to Central Asia. They shared cultural, linguistic, and religious ties with other ancient Iranian peoples, including the Medes, Persians, and Parthians. Their art, metallurgy, and horse culture influenced civilizations far beyond their territorial reach. Scholars like Herodotus described them as a unique group with their own traditions, rooted firmly in an Iranic identity.
Their iconic clothing—flowing robes, intricate gold jewelry, and headdresses—reflected their lifestyle as nomadic warriors and horsemen. These garments were not merely utilitarian but a symbol of their deeply ingrained Iranic heritage. The Kazakh narrative conveniently adopts these visual markers, but historical and linguistic evidence does not support their claim to Scythian identity.
Who Were the Kazakhs?
The Kazakhs, as a Turkic people, emerged much later in history, long after the Iranic Scythians had faded as a distinct group. While the Kazakh steppe was once part of the Scythian domain, the Turkification of the region following Mongol invasions fundamentally altered its demographics and culture. By the time the Kazakhs appeared, the Iranic peoples had been displaced, assimilated, or annihilated. To claim direct descent from the Scythians is akin to asserting that modern Englishmen are ethnically Celtic simply because they inhabit former Celtic lands.
This historical incongruence underscores the absurdity of dressing Kazakh statues in Scythian attire. Just as putting Native American regalia on European settlers' statues does not transform them into indigenous peoples, these gestures are shallow attempts to rewrite history for political purposes.
The Consequences of Historical Revisionism
Rewriting history may serve short-term nationalist agendas, but it erodes our understanding of humanity's shared heritage. For Iranians, the Scythians are a crucial link to our cultural and spiritual ancestry. They are part of the same Iranic tapestry as Zoroastrians, Medes, and Persians, representing a lineage that resisted Arab imperialism and Islamic erasure.
By appropriating Scythian culture, modern states like Kazakhstan undermine the integrity of Iranic history and perpetuate a false narrative that diminishes the contributions of ancient Iranic peoples to world civilization. This is particularly egregious given the broader context of Turkic and Mongolic invasions, which sought to dominate and suppress the very peoples whose culture they now claim as their own.
The Path Forward
As Christians, we are called to pursue truth and stand against falsehood. This extends to preserving historical accuracy and ensuring that each nation honors its true heritage without stealing from others. For Iranians and all descendants of Iranic peoples, it is essential to educate ourselves and others about our ancestral contributions, from Scythian art to the Zoroastrian faith, which inspired many Judeo-Christian values.
Let us not allow history to be rewritten by those who would wear our clothes while denying our existence. The Scythians belong to the Iranic family, and their legacy should be protected as a testament to their true identity.
Citations
- Herodotus. Histories, Book IV.
- Ivantchik, Askold. "Scythians." Encyclopaedia Iranica. Available at: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/scythians
- Beckwith, Christopher. Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present. Princeton University Press, 2009.
- Harmatta, János. "The Scythians in Historical Perspective." Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae.
- Golden, Peter B. An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples. Harrassowitz, 1992.
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