#tamgas

Treister, M. Y. (1998). Sarmatian Complexes of the 1st Century A.D. a Survey of Publications in Vdi. Ancient Cilvilizations From Scythia to Siberia, 4(1), 77.

This is a current theory saying that the coats of arms of Polish nobility developed from magical characters of the Sarmatians which were called "tamgas”. According to tradition Polish nobility were the descendants of the ancient Sarmatians, and in fact Poland was often called Sarmatia or Sauromatia. In the 19th century this traditional belief was regarded as a myth, but now it is held to be based on truth. The tamgas were magical signs the exact purpose of which is not known. They were found on various objects of everyday use, on weapons, jewellery, etc. and were brought to Europe by the Sarmatians in the early centuries A.D, from their homeland on the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea where they bordered with the Persian Empire the land of the Magi. It is easy to see the similarity of the tamgas and the coats of arms of Polish nobility.