03-12-2013, 12:28 AM
You guys are correct. A poor noble had a "one horse" funeral, while the "big guy," the top general, had up to 300 horses ritually killed for his send-off party. The horses could have easily been killed by the use of a sagaris, and 1,000s of people then attended the feast in the general's honor. These would have included various subtribes and clans who fought alonside the honcho.
I really HATE the common practice by historians and archaeologists referring to these people as "Scythians." :x These people were Tall Hat Saka, ancestors of the Sarmatians, Wusun, and Alans. Scythians were a whole 'nother people, living to the EAST of the Aral-Caspian.
The earliest sagarii found were bi-metal-- bronze and iron. It must have been a very quick way to dispatch both humans and horses. :whistle:
I really HATE the common practice by historians and archaeologists referring to these people as "Scythians." :x These people were Tall Hat Saka, ancestors of the Sarmatians, Wusun, and Alans. Scythians were a whole 'nother people, living to the EAST of the Aral-Caspian.
The earliest sagarii found were bi-metal-- bronze and iron. It must have been a very quick way to dispatch both humans and horses. :whistle:
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb