A Tale of Two Games: Cirit, Buzkashi and the Horsemen of the Asiatic Steppe

Abstract

The horse has been an essential component to life on the Asiatic steppe since its domestication c. 5,500 years ago. The importance of the horse to these nomadic peoples can be seen not only in the portrayal of equines in both art and literature, as well as their presence in the archaeological record, but also through their role in the daily life of these horse cultures. This is particularly apparent in the significance of traditional horse sports to the nomads of the region. This article examines two of these 'folk' competitions: cirit and buzkashi.