'Golden Man' of Kazakhstan: National treasure sheds light on nation's cultural roots

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02:53

National treasures often carry within them a great message. One such treasure is displayed in Kazakhstan's capital Nur-Sultan – one that has become a source of pride for the Kazakh people. CGTN's Michal Bardavid has more.

In the national museum of Kazakhstan's capital, there is one essential piece of art – a legendary warrior that represents Kazakh culture around the world, he is known as the Golden Man.

His discovery was made in 1969 in the town of Issyk, close to Almaty by archaeologist Kemal Akishev. Experts believe the remains found in the burial date to around the 2nd or 3rd century BC and belong to a soldier of the Saka tribes – ancestors of the Kazakh people.

The Golden Man wears a headdress with upward pointing arrows and snow leopards – powerful symbols of the fighter. On his red colored clothing golden plates are embroidered with mythical animal motifs.

MICHAL BARDAVID NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN "The Golden Man on display behind me at the national museum in Nur-Sultan is a replica, the original is kept in a secure room with special room temperature. It has become an important symbol of Kazakhstan's ancient roots and cultural heritage."

Each year thousands of locals and tourists visit the museum to see this national treasure, many are fascinated with what it teaches them about different civilizations.

ANNA TOURIST "I never thought that there will be something that impressed me more than the mummy in Egypt, this is even more interesting for me and I will buy a book and read more things because it's very new for me and when we came here I knew nothing about Kazakhstan and now we are really impressed with all the things that I'm seeing."

In the discovery, archeologists also found over four thousand golden pieces of jewelry, many of which are displayed at the museum.

NURASSYL SMAGULOV STAFF MEMBER, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KAZAKHSTAN "We think that it's a ritual when they bury the social position higher men, after the death, they can use all of this gold, they can save a spirit maybe like this."

It is also believed that gold carried great significance for warriors during battle.

NURASSYL SMAGULOV STAFF MEMBER, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KAZAKHSTAN "We have ancient writings, Greek writings and Chinese writings, in the mythology they all dressed with golden jewelry and in the mythology when they attack some tribes in that time, they fear the gold, golden blinds."

The Golden Man is also often exhibited in different countries around the world, an honor given by the Kazakh government in hopes of increasing dialogue among nations.

Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Nur-sultan, Kazakhstan.