Dahae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dahae Daae
People
Location	present-day west and northwest Turkmenistan, far southwest Kazakhstan and far west Uzbekistan (most of the Ustyurt Plateau)
Branches	Parni, Xanthii and Pissuri

The Dahae (say: Dah-hay), also known as the Daae or Dahaeans, were an ancient group of Eastern Iranian nomads. They lived in the wide, open steppes of Central Asia. These people formed a powerful group of tribes. Their home was mainly in what is now Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Who Were the Dahae?

Historians have tried to figure out exactly who the Dahae were. Some think they might be mentioned in old religious texts called the Yašts. These texts talk about five groups who followed the Zoroastrian religion.

Dahae and the Massagetae

Many experts believe the Dahae were connected to another famous nomadic group called the Massagetae. One scholar, János Harmatta, pointed out that ancient writers placed both groups in the same area. This area was between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Other researchers also suggested the Dahae were part of the Massagetae tribes. However, some scholars think the Dahae were a separate group, even if they lived nearby.

Where Did the Dahae Live?

The Dahae first lived in the northeastern part of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. This was in the dry Karakum Desert, close to a region called Margiana. They lived alongside other groups like the Saka and the people of Sogdia and Chorasmia. This area was just north of Hyrcania.

Moving Westward

Later, around 300 BCE, the Dahae began to move. One important tribe of the Dahae, called the Parni, settled near the southern edge of the Karakum desert. By the mid-3rd century BCE, they had moved even further west. They settled along the southeastern shores of the Caspian Sea, north of Hyrcania. Two other Dahae tribes, the Xanthioi and the Pissouroi, lived further east.

What Does "Dahae" Mean?

The name "Dahae" comes from an old Saka language. It means "man" or "human." Many ancient peoples called themselves "man" in their own language. This was a common way to identify their group. The Dahae were always on the move. They did not have any known permanent towns or cities.

History of the Dahae

The Dahae played a role in the history of ancient Central Asia. They controlled important trade routes. These routes connected Chorasmia in the north with Parthia and Hyrcania in the south.

Fighting Cyrus the Great

According to an ancient historian named Berossus, the founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, Cyrus, died fighting the Dahae. Some scholars believe Berossus mentioned the Dahae because they were very famous nomads by his time. They might have been even more well-known than the Massagetae.

Mentioned by Xerxes I

The Dahae are definitely mentioned in an old inscription from the Achaemenid king Xerxes I. This inscription is called the Daiva Inscription. It lists the Dahae along with other Saka groups.

Battle of Gaugamela

In 331 BCE, the Dahae fought in a major battle. They were part of the Achaemenid army against Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela. They fought on the left side of the Persian army, alongside the Bactrians and the Saka.

Invasions and Settlements

Around 300 BCE, the Dahae might have invaded regions called Margiana and Areia. During this time, they destroyed some towns there. As they moved, the Parni tribe of the Dahae settled near the Ochus river in Hyrcania. Their leader, Arsaces, went on to create the powerful Parthian Empire.

Contact with China

In the 2nd century BCE, the Dahae were still living in the steppes. They, along with the Parthian Empire and other groups, sent messengers to Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty in China. This shows they were an important group in the region.

Legacy of the Dahae

The lands north of Hyrcania, where the Dahae settled, became known by their name. These areas were called Dehestān and Dahistān. This shows how important the Dahae were to the history and geography of the region.

See also

• Massagetae
• Parthian Empire
• Saka
• Scythian cultures