Cyrtian

Cyrtian

The Cyrtians or Kyrtians (gr. Κύρτιοι Kýrtioi, lat. Cyrtii) was an ancient tribe in historic Persia. Their name is a candidate for the nominal ancestor of the ethnonym of the Kurdish people.

According to Rüdiger Schmitt[1], a tribe dwelling mainly in the mountains of Atropatenian Media together with the Cadusii, Amardi (or “Mardi”), Tapyri, and others (Strabo 11.13.3). Strabo characterized the Cyrtians living in Persia as migrants and predatory brigands.

In the Hellenistic period they seem to have been in demand as slingers, for they fought as such for the Median satrap Molon in his revolt against King Antiochus III in 220 BC [1].

In popular culture

In the computer game Rome: Total Realism there are several Cyrtian unit types: Cyrtian slingers, Cyrtian swordsmen etc.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b Schmitt, Rüdiger. "CYRTIANS". Center for Iranian Studies, Encyclopædia Iranica. New York: Columbia University. http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v6f5/v6f5a025.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09. [dead link]


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