Home
Back
Sources
Roots
Writing
Language
Religion
Genetics
Geography
Archeology
Coins
 

Ethnic Affiliation Scythians
Volga Bulgars
Scythians 7 c. BC
Pazyryk 4-2 c. BC
Scythians and their descendents

 
Alan Dateline
Avar Dateline
Besenyo Dateline
Bulgar Dateline
Huns Dateline
Karluk Dateline
Kimak Dateline
Kipchak Dateline
Khazar Dateline
Kyrgyz Dateline
Sabir Dateline

Türkic Warriors and Archers

INTRODUCTION

Alexander Sarcophagus

Marble, Sidon (Lebanon), Late fourth century BC
195 x 318 x 167cm

The so-called Alexander Sarcophagus of Istanbul Archaeological Museum is regarded as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the nineteenth century. It was found in 1887 in the underground royal necropolis of Sidon (present day Saida). Originally it was painted. The sarcophagus belonged to the King of Sidon Abdalonymos. One of the long sides of its casket shows a battle scene between the Scythians (Sakas) in the Persian service and the Greeks, i.e. Macedonians (the Thracians that the Greeks called the barbarians) of the Alexander's army.  The opposite long face is decorated with two hunting scenes, those of a lion and a deer, where both the Scythians and Greeks participate. One of its short sides bear a battle scene of three isolated fights. The other short side shows a panther hunt. It is notable that for the sculptor, no Persian soldiers exist, and to show a Persian warrior, the sculptor has only Scythian warriors for a model. Reportedly, this is one of two sarcophaguses contracted by Alexander Macedonian himself. The silver swords, composite bows and arrows were stolen eons ago, so only the traces of metal embedded into the marble indicate the weapons used by the participants of the reliefs.

Det 1. Detail from the Alexander Sarcophagus. Alexander the Great mounted on a horse and chasing a Persian Scyth soldier.
 Note the pointed hat and the boots of the Scythian and the bare hill of helmeted Alexander.

Det 2. A mounted Scythian charging a Greek, a hooded Scythian arrower, a Scythian lowering his hooded dead Scythian friend
Note the demonstrably barefoot Greek warrior and the booted Scythians

Det 3. A barefoot Greek commander charges a boots-clad Scythian falling from his horse

Det 4. Four Scythians at a panther hunt
This is a good illustration of what Achaemenids called "Saka Tigrakhauda"  and the Greeks "Kermikhions" and "Melanchlaeni",
ie "pointed hat Saka".
 For the patterns for the hats, socks, suspender belts and boots see http://www.dom-np.narod.ru/rekon/rhazar.htm

Det 5. A Scyth and a Greek, thought to be Hephaestion (a general of Alexander and his closest friend) at a lion hunt
Scyth dressed in a pointed head-dress, with a barefoot Greek general.

Det 6. A Greek and a Scyth at a deer hunt
Scyth dressed in a pointed head-dress and boots, with a savage-dressed barefoot Greek added for a better contrast.

Det 7. Scyth dressed in a pointed head-dress and boots charges a fallen barefoot Greek, and a helmeted barefoot Greek killing a Scyth wearing boots

Source

 

Notes

 
Home
Back
Sources
Roots
Writing
Language
Religion
Genetics
Geography
Archeology
Coins
 

Ethnic Affiliation Scythians
Volga Bulgars
Scythians 7 c. BC
Pazyryk 4-2 c. BC
Scythians and their descendents

 
Alan Dateline
Avar Dateline
Besenyo Dateline
Bulgar Dateline
Huns Dateline
Karluk Dateline
Kimak Dateline
Kipchak Dateline
Khazar Dateline
Kyrgyz Dateline
Sabir Dateline