Massagets

Massagets is the common name for a group of Iranian nomadic tribes related to the Scythians linguistically and culturally. Often, together with the Massagets, a similar tribal association of Sakas is described. The main centers of intermediate settlements of the Massagets were located in the central and eastern parts of Kazakhstan, the Aral Sea region, the Transcaspian region, and the Pamirs. The first mentions of the Massagets appeared around the 5th century BC. in the works of ancient historians, in particular Herodotus. He portrayed the nomads as brave warriors armed with bows, spears and axes. The main branch of their troops was cavalry, while there was also infantry equipped with akinaki (short swords) and axes. Ancient sources report that the Massagets waged wars with the powerful Persian kings Cyrus and Darius I, Alexander the Great. At the site of temporary settlements, the Massagets were engaged in cattle breeding and fishing. According to some linguists, the very name of the tribal group comes from the word “fish”; others believe that “Massagets” translates as “great Saka horde”. At temporary shelters, the nomads did not build houses, but slept in carts. The social structure of the nomadic Iranian tribes was based on matriarchy; during the war with Cyrus, for example, they were ruled by Queen Tumaris. The Massagets had widespread pagan beliefs, in particular the cult of the sun, to which horses were sacrificed. In certain areas of Central Asia, nomads left some kind of painting: rock paintings of scenes of a successful hunt or a combat duel. The dead were buried in bulk burial mounds, most of which are now located in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.