In the shadow of the Syr Darya’s lower reaches, the 7th century BC bore witness to the Scythian tribes’ audacious assault on the Medes, the nucleus of the nascent Persian empire. These formidable Scythians, in 530 BC, vanquished the troops of Cyrus II in a clash that left an indelible mark on Persian memory. The defeat at the hands of Tomyris and her Massagetae was a wound to Persian pride, one that Darius I sought to avenge in 520 BC with a campaign aimed at quelling the Saka’s defiance.
Darius I amassed an army of 700,000—a testament to his intent not merely to subdue the Saka but to assert dominance over the Scythians of the Black Sea region, thereby paving the way for an offensive against the Greek city-states.
During this era, the Saka lacked a unified rule, with tribes vying for land and pastures, often at each other’s throats. Among them was Skunk, a tribal chief whose son, Shirak, was hailed as a peerless warrior. Yet, Shirak eschewed the path of war, choosing instead the serenity of shepherding and the warmth of family life. Tragedy struck when Darius’s machinations led to an attack on Shirak’s tribe by bribed Scythians, resulting in the loss of Shirak’s wife and his own injury. Fleeing into the steppe, he buried his wife and mourned for seven days, after which he vowed vengeance against both the traitorous Saka and the Persians.
Returning to his people, Shirak joined a council of tribal chiefs to devise a defense. His proposal was daring: lure Darius’s forces into the heart of the desert to their demise. Shirak’s plea was for the future remembrance of those willing to die for their homeland.
Disfiguring himself as proof of his feigned betrayal, Shirak infiltrated the Persian camp and convinced Darius of his loyalty. Leading the Persians into the barren wasteland with promises of oases, Shirak orchestrated their downfall. As the Persians succumbed to the desert’s merciless embrace, Shirak faced his end with the words, «This is a victory!» upon his lips.
The Persian forces emerged from the desert, diminished and defeated. Darius I survived but retreated from Saka lands, later to conquer elsewhere, yet the Saka remained untamed. Shirak’s memory, his unyielding devotion to his people, echoes through time in legends and folk songs, a tribute to the shepherd who dared defy an empire.
This expanded narrative of Shirak weaves together the threads of history and legend, painting a portrait of a man whose love for his land and people transcended his own life. It is a story that resonates across centuries, a testament to the enduring spirit of the Central Asian peoples and their rich oral traditions.
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