RELIGIOUS BELIEFS IN THE SAKA–MASSAGETAE PERIOD: THE CASE OF CENTRAL ASIA

The religious beliefs of the Saka–Massagetae tribes represent an important stage in the spiritual and cultural development of ancient Central Asian nomadic societies. This article examines the formation, structure, and socio-cultural significance of religious beliefs among the Saka–Massagetae, based on archaeological, historical, and comparative sources. Particular attention is given to the worship of natural forces, solar cults, ancestor veneration, and animal symbolism, which played a central role in shaping their worldview