Poland and Iran - Sarmatia and Sarmartism - a remarkable but largely forgotten historical connection
Jacek Malczewski (1854-1929) Self-portrait 1914 The profound, historic, arguably fanciful relationship between Poland and Iran should be re-examined at this appalling time. I fully realize there can be no direct practical relevance to the present murderous brutality but the context in past time adds some substance to the present picture. There is a common, modern pejorative criticism of Sarmatism and its ideology. The anthropological truth or otherwise of the alleged Polish descent from this tribe does not alter the long-lasting influence of the szlachta [1] and their beliefs on Poles and Poland. This war has put me mind of the once, now rarely referred to, predominant myth of Polish origins being Sarmatia and possibly Iran (known to Europeans as Persia). This elaborate and engaging history endured for hundreds of years. Most extraordinary and notable to my mind, was noted in behavior during the various tragic and misguided Middle ...