- Journal of Old Turkic Studies
- Volume:8 Issue:1
- The Origin of the Scythians and the Identity of the Scythians and the Alans in John Tzetzes’ Work
The Origin of the Scythians and the Identity of the Scythians and the Alans in John Tzetzes’ Work
Authors : Fatih Şengül
Pages : 104-129
Doi:10.35236/jots.1419539
View : 339 | Download : 516
Publication Date : 2024-02-23
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Much has been said about the origin of the Scythians, but no academician or researcher has ever been able to provide evidence to reveal the identity of the Scythians. Today, the prevailing view about the origin of the Scythians is the view that they are of Indo-European origin. And this argument is supported by Western academics. No written sources say that the Scythians were of Indo-European origin or spoke an Indo-European language. The only thing that makes those a community of Indo-European origin is the arbitrary explanations of the personal names belonging to their language in Indo-European languages and the kinship relationship established between the Ossetians and Alans. No consistent explanation of the words of the Scythian language in Indo-European languages has been provided to date. However, very recently, in the light of written sources, more than one piece of evidence has been presented to shed light on the origins of the Scythians. This article aims to reveal the true identity of the Scythians and Alans in the work of the 12th-century Byzantine writer John Tzetzes in the ligt of these new evidences.Keywords : Scythians, Turks, Ogurs, Magyars, Chinese, Alans, Ossetians
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