Aorsi

The ethnonym Aorsi is generally linked to the Avestan auruša- and the Ossetic ūrs or ors, meaning 'white'. The names Arsīyah and Arsā, mentioned by Al-Masudi and Al-Garnati in the 10–12th century AD, may also be related. ==History==

The Aorsi and an associated tribe, the Siraces, are believed to have migrated during the late 5th century BC from Central Asia to areas north and west of the Caspian Sea. The territory of the Aorsi is believed to have extended eastwards as far as the Aral Sea. Furthest to the east lived the Upper Aorsi. They held the largest territory, dominating according to Strabo the Caspian coast, which enabled them to become the most numerous faction. The Aorsi became famous for their wearing of golden ornaments. Together with Roman cohorts and Roman-armed Bosporans, the Aorsi besieged the poorly fortified town of the Siraces and massacred its population, forcing their king Zorsines to yield hostages and prostrate himself before the image of Emperor Claudius. Facing inevitable defeat, Mithridates surrendered and threw himself before the feet of Eunones. Eunones was deeply moved by Mithridates' plight, and sent envoys to Claudius supporting Mithridates' request to be executed without a triumph. Claudius agreed in a letter to Eunones, and although Mithridates was eventually brought to Rome through Pontus, he was spared from execution and instead exiled. After the Bosporan War the Siraces were significantly weakened while the Aorsi rose in strength. ==Links to Yancai and Alans==

Many scholars have equated both the Aorsi and Alans to the state of Yancai, also known as Alanliao, which was mentioned in earlier Chinese records. In the 1st century AD, the Alans achieved a dominant position among the Sarmatians living between the Don River and the Caspian Sea. The Alans were a people from the east closely related to the Aorsi, whom they either absorbed or conquered. Some of the Aorsi appear to have migrated west to the north of Crimea, where they maintained a semi-independent existence. Ptolemy also speaks of the Alanorsi, suggesting that a fusion of some sorts between them had occurred. One of the seven Hungarian tribes, Örs, may be related to the Aorsi. ==See also==