Why Turks Try to Culturally Appropriate Iranian Scythian Heritage
By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former President of the Muslim Forum of Utah, Christian Conservative LDS
darvishintelligence.blogspot.com
The Scythians, ancient Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes, dominated the Eurasian steppes for centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond. As an Iranian-American with Scythian ancestry, I find it profoundly troubling that modern-day Turkish nationalists attempt to appropriate this heritage as their own. This cultural appropriation disregards historical facts and distorts the identities of Iranic peoples, such as the Scythians, to advance a Turkic nationalist agenda. Examining the motivations behind this appropriation reveals broader issues of historical erasure and ideological manipulation within Turkish nationalism.
The Scythians: An Iranian Legacy
The Scythians, or Saka, were a group of Iranic-speaking peoples who roamed the vast expanses of Central Asia, Southern Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe from roughly the 8th century BCE until their decline in the early centuries CE. They were distinguished by their language, traditions, and art, which bore clear hallmarks of Iranian cultural elements, such as their reverence for nature, spiritual dualism, and their particular social structures that echoed the later Parthian and Sassanian dynasties. Persian historians and scholars, from Ferdowsi to later Iranic chroniclers, have long celebrated the Scythians as part of the larger Iranian cultural and historical sphere.
Yet today, Turkish nationalists claim the Scythians as their own Turkic ancestors, attempting to rewrite the legacy of this distinctly Iranian group. This narrative is not based on linguistic, archeological, or cultural evidence but rather on ideological aspirations to reshape history to promote a pan-Turkic identity. In this, they seek to lay claim to territories and cultures outside of traditional Turkic influence by manipulating history to justify political and territorial ambitions.
Roots of Appropriation in Turkish Nationalism
The roots of Turkish appropriation lie in the rise of Pan-Turkism, a nationalist ideology that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Pan-Turkism aims to unify all Turkic-speaking peoples under a singular identity and nation, envisioning a grand Turkic empire spanning Central Asia, the Caucasus, and even parts of Eastern Europe. This ideology gained traction under the Young Turks, later under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reforms, and most recently under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has used history as a political tool to expand Turkey’s influence.
In this context, the Scythians have become pawns in a larger narrative that seeks to legitimize modern Turkish claims over lands historically belonging to Iranian, Kurdish, Armenian, and other indigenous groups. By claiming the Scythians as Turks, Turkish nationalists ignore the clear Iranic roots of these peoples and erase their identity, thereby legitimizing Turkey's political ambitions in regions like the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Evidence Refuting Turkic Claims to Scythian Heritage
The evidence against the Turkic origin of the Scythians is overwhelming. First, linguistic studies have consistently shown that the Scythians spoke an Eastern Iranian language closely related to Old Persian and Avestan, not any Turkic language. Renowned linguists such as Oswald Szemerényi and David W. Anthony confirm that Scythian languages belonged firmly within the Iranian linguistic family, with no connection to Turkic tongues. The Scythian burial mounds, or kurgans, scattered across the steppes, reveal artifacts featuring motifs and designs distinct to Iranic culture, not Turkic.
Moreover, ancient historians like Herodotus, who documented the Scythians extensively, described their practices, beliefs, and attire in terms that align them with other Iranic tribes. Their burial practices, weaponry, and even their dress were closer to Persians than to Turkic groups. Even genetic studies show that the Scythians were more closely related to other Indo-Iranian groups than to Turkic populations.
Modern Turkish Propaganda and the Erosion of Iranic Identity
Despite overwhelming historical evidence, Turkish media and education have continued to spread the narrative of a Turkic Scythian heritage. State-sponsored documentaries, textbooks, and media often promote this false history, targeting both domestic and international audiences. By doing so, Turkey attempts to extend its cultural influence into Central Asia and the Caucasus, rebranding Iranian legacies as Turkic and eroding the historical identities of indigenous Iranic groups in these regions.
This propaganda not only undermines the Iranian identity of the Scythians but also threatens the integrity of historical scholarship. For Iranic peoples, such as the Kurds, Baloch, and the Iranian Azeris, Turkish claims over their ancient past pose a threat to their cultural heritage, as these groups are pressured to conform to a Turkic identity rather than celebrate their distinct Iranic roots.
Conclusion: Preserving Iranic Heritage
As an Iranian-American who values his Scythian heritage, I cannot remain silent in the face of this cultural appropriation. Turkey’s manipulation of history for nationalist goals not only distorts the truth but also aims to erase the Iranic contributions to the cultural tapestry of Eurasia. By recognizing and defending the Scythians as an Iranic people, we safeguard a part of history that belongs to the Iranian cultural sphere. Let us remember that the legacy of the Scythians is not one of conquest or erasure but of resilience and enduring identity, one that Turkish nationalist myths cannot erase.
Citations
- Herodotus. The Histories. Translated by Robin Waterfield, Oxford University Press, 2008.
- Szemerényi, Oswald. "Four Old Iranian Ethnic Names: Scythian – Skudra – Sogdian – Saka." Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 97, no. 4, 1977, pp. 455-460.
- Anthony, David W. The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World. Princeton University Press, 2007.
- Curtis, John, and Nigel Tallis, editors. Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia. University of California Press, 2005.
- Golden, Peter B. An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples: Ethnogenesis and State-Formation in Medieval and Early Modern Eurasia and the Middle East. Otto Harrassowitz, 1992.
- Di Cosmo, Nicola. Ancient China and Its Enemies: The Rise of Nomadic Power in East Asian History. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
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