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| Iranic Scythian vs. Altaic Turk |
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 narrative of Turkish origins has been shrouded in myths propagated by pan-Turkist and neo-Ottoman ideologues. These groups have gone to great lengths to appropriate and distort the rich history of Iranic Scythians and Persians, claiming them as their own. As someone who values historical accuracy, my goal in this article is to set the record straight and refute these pseudoscientific claims that seek to rewrite the true history of the Turks and their Altaic origins.
The Iranic Scythians: An Iranic Legacy
The Scythians were an ancient group of Iranic-speaking nomads who dominated the Eurasian Steppe from the 7th century BC to the 3rd century AD. These horse-riding warriors were culturally, linguistically, and ethnically tied to the broader Iranic world, sharing commonalities with Persians, Medes, and Parthians. Their influence extended from the Black Sea to the Altai Mountains, but their identity remained distinctly Iranic, rooted in Zoroastrian traditions, Iranic languages, and practices like boar hunting and the domestication of dogs.
The Scythians were instrumental in spreading Iranic culture and practices across the steppe. Archaeological findings, such as Scythian burial mounds (kurgans) adorned with Zoroastrian symbols, further validate their Iranic identity. Historians like Herodotus and Strabo explicitly identified the Scythians as Iranic-speaking peoples, distinct from other nomadic groups such as the Altaic-speaking Turks.
The Real Origins of the Turks
The Turks, in contrast, are an Altaic people whose origins trace back to the steppes of Central Asia, particularly the region surrounding the Altai Mountains. Linguistically, Turkic languages belong to the Altaic language family, which has no genetic or linguistic ties to the Indo-Iranic languages spoken by the Scythians and Persians.
The earliest known Turkic people were the Göktürks, who emerged in the 6th century AD as a confederation of nomadic tribes. Unlike the Iranic Scythians, the Göktürks practiced shamanism and animism, spoke Altaic languages, and had distinct cultural markers, such as runic inscriptions in the Orkhon script. Their migrations brought them into contact with various civilizations, including the Iranic-speaking Sogdians, from whom they adopted certain cultural elements. However, this cultural borrowing does not equate to a shared origin.
Pan-Turkist and Neo-Ottoman Pseudohistory
Pan-Turkists and neo-Ottoman revisionists have long sought to blur the distinctions between Iranic and Altaic peoples, claiming that Scythians and Persians were Turkic ancestors. This narrative is not only historically inaccurate but also a disservice to the rich and diverse histories of both groups.
One of the most egregious examples of this distortion is the claim that the Scythians were proto-Turks. This assertion is debunked by linguistic, genetic, and archaeological evidence, which overwhelmingly points to the Iranic roots of the Scythians. Genetic studies have consistently shown that ancient Scythian remains possess markers associated with Iranic peoples, not Altaic Turks. Furthermore, their burial practices, artifacts, and inscriptions align with those of other Iranic civilizations.
Similarly, neo-Ottoman ideologues have attempted to rewrite the history of the Persian Empire, falsely attributing its achievements to Turkic influences. This revisionism undermines the contributions of Persian kings like Cyrus the Great and Darius, whose Zoroastrian faith and administrative genius laid the foundation for one of the most enduring empires in history.
The Danger of Pseudoscience in History
The spread of pseudohistorical narratives by pan-Turkist and neo-Ottoman movements is not just a scholarly issue; it has real-world implications. These narratives are used to justify expansionist policies, deny the heritage of indigenous groups like Armenians, Kurds, and Persians, and promote a homogenized, imperialistic vision of Turkish identity.
As a conservative Iranian-American and a former socialist turned Christian LDS, I believe in the importance of preserving the truth. The Iranic peoples have a proud history that predates and stands apart from the Turks. To conflate the two is to erase the unique contributions of Iranic civilization to the world.
Conclusion
It is essential to recognize the true origins of the Turks as an Altaic people and to resist the false narratives perpetuated by pan-Turkist and neo-Ottoman revisionists. The Iranic Scythians and Persians are not part of this lineage, and their rich heritage should be celebrated on its own terms.
By understanding the distinctions between Iranic and Altaic histories, we can foster a greater appreciation for the diverse cultures that have shaped our world. Let us honor the truth and reject the distortions that seek to undermine it.
Citations
Herodotus. The Histories. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt, Penguin Classics, 1996.
Strabo. Geography. Edited by H. L. Jones, Harvard University Press, 1924.
Harmatta, János. “Scythians.” Encyclopaedia Iranica. iranicaonline.org/articles/scythians.
Golden, Peter B. An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples. Otto Harrassowitz, 1992.
Mallory, J.P., and Victor H. Mair. The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the Earliest Peoples from the West. Thames & Hudson, 2000.
Genetic Evidence on Scythian Ancestry. Nature Communications, 2019. nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11358-5.
Sinor, Denis. Inner Asia and Its Contacts with Medieval Europe. Variorum Reprints, 1977.
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