Saxon and Scythian

The word Saqsin has perfect Turkic etymlogical explanation meaning Saksin (lower i.e. lower Volga or Saqcin i.e. guardian). And it's not the name of the region, but just a name for a trade city at the lower Volga. Finally, there are no definite proofs that Sarai was located in the place of Saqsin, 

Didn't have time to read the whole thread, so I apologize if someone said this already.

Originally posted by Brainstorm The only connection i could find ,would be the existence of Sarmatian mercenaries in Britain,during late Roman times. (its known that Sarmatians replaced Scythians in the same area)

Yes, as I was about to post:  Ironically, the Saxons may have fought Scythians, more or less, in that the probable prototype of the armored knight in the Arthurian age were the retired veterans, living at Bremetanacum (sp?) in Lancashire (to help defend it against Irish brigands), of the Sarmatian cataphracts stationed in Britain to back up the legion defending the Wall.  These were 'Scythians' of north Persian linguistic stock who wore plate armor and had armored skirts for their horses in the heaviest regiments.  As the only type of warrior capable of riding down the hardy but poorly armored Saxon foot, they would have made a natural mobile 'police force' in post-Roman Britain, moving quickly (under leadership of a high king?) to a threatened sector to combine with local militia in suppressing Saxon outbreaks.  (What eventually brought the Britons down was plague, seemingly, in the second half of the 6th century.) 

The most surprising similarities (or coincidence of course) ,are the use of dragon-similar in the artifacts of Saxons and the "flags" of Sarmatians, and the myth of Exculiber. Scythians (and probably sarm) ,used to build tombs ,placing on top long swords,stucked on the ground or between rocks . This is mentioned also by Herodotus,who calls them temples-tombs dedicated to Ares (god of War),as "he is the only God they worship).

Yes, the 'sword in the stone' has a decidedly Sarmatian flavor.  But I would guess the dragon standards would have to have been captured Sarmatian standards--characteristic dragon wind-sock useful to archery--or else similar ones adopted by their Keltic allies, with whom they no doubt became interbred.

It is interesting that Jacob Grimm, in his Teutonic Mythology, suggested the name Mars may have come from the expression 'in dem Aresburg' (hope I spelt it right).

Originally posted by Boyo Didn’t Herodotus mention that Thracians worshiped Ares as one of their gods? Wouldn’t it make Samarians to be the same as Thracians who were well known by Herodotus? Thracians were a definite ethnicity. They left touchable traces behind, whereas Samarians are mentioned by scribes but left no place names no language behind and can not be assigned to a specific region with any certainly. It can be, the same people are talked about and all different names are attached to them. Having the same pantheon of gods doesn’t necessary tie them together? Greeks worshipped Ares too and were a separate nation. Besides, the same Herodotus wrote that Thracians are a populous people known by different names in different parts of the world.