The Influence of Sakai (Scythian) Tribe in History and Shahnameh

Sakai ancient tribe has a fundamental role in the development of ancient history and myths of different nations, including Greeks, Iranians, Indians and Chinese. These invading and nomadic tribes in the beginning of the Aryan history, like other Aryan tribes, scattered in the east and west and south of residential world and though they were in an endless conflict with their neighbors they were finally overturned among them and only a name of Sakai remained in history. Due to the nature of wilderness, the research resources about their cultural affair are limited to their tombs of Kings and scattered references in chronicles of their neighbors. Study and research about the Sakais folk manner and their distribution indicates a common origin for Sakai tribes and the family of Zal and Rostam in Shahnameh, although the word of "Sagzi" is the only verbal evidence of link between family of Rostam and Sakai tribe. Furthermore some of their customs and life styles may be found in some stories of Shahnameh. Moreover, there are evidences of Soghdian documents discovered in China which imply that the Soghdians had a mediating role in the transmission of Sakais myths to the Iranian national epic.