The Sarmatians (/ s ɑːr ˈ m eɪ ʃ i ə n z /; Greek: Σαρμάται, Σαυρομάται; Latin: Sarmatae [ˈsar.mat̪ae̯], Sauromatae [sau̯ˈrɔmat̪ae̯]) were a large Iranian confederation that existed in classical antiquity, flourishing from about the fifth century BC to the fourth century AD.. Originating in the central parts of the Eurasian Steppe, the Sarmatians were part of ...

Name. The name Roxolani is generally interpreted as a compound formed with the Alanic root *rox- (modern Osset. rūxs or roxs 'light, luminous'; Avest. raox-šna-'luminous, shining') attached to the tribal name Alān.This would make Roxolani an endonym translatable as the 'luminous' or the 'shining Alans'. The name could be linked to aspects of worship or the supernatural, as …