Why is Cyrus so... white?
- Thread starter Grimus
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bonafide11
Worker
Lol... Yeah, I agree that Cyrus is way too white and Firaxis really should change that. It drives me nuts the way he looks for real.
But, to be politically correct, Persians aren't Arabs. There's a difference between those who consider themselves "Persian" and those who consider themselves "Arab." As far as I know, Iran is the only state with a Persian majority. Iranians are extremely conscious of their "Persian" identity in contrast to the surrounding Arab regions, and can be pretty offended by being called "Arabic."
But, to be politically correct, Persians aren't Arabs. There's a difference between those who consider themselves "Persian" and those who consider themselves "Arab." As far as I know, Iran is the only state with a Persian majority. Iranians are extremely conscious of their "Persian" identity in contrast to the surrounding Arab regions, and can be pretty offended by being called "Arabic."
porto_alegre_xP
Warworld, not Warlord :p
i dont know. make this question for he 
Bakuel
King
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- 608
I have seen many pictures of people from Iran, some of them have been white, a bit of them have been reddish or light brown similar to Arabs, Berbers, or other Bedouin, but most of them have been of a fine swarthy complexion. If you look at these pictures and look at Cyrus yes, it may appear that he is a bit too light.
However, what many people fell to realize as they talk about skin color (this guy is so light/dark, the X people are a shade lighter/darker whatever), is that skin color CHANGES depending on how much sunlight someone gets.
For example, look at this picture of a Arabic Bedouin,
http://www.jordanjubilee.com/images/bedouin/Cheikh_Attaieq_5_90.jpg
Our chap looks like a pretty stereotypical Arab dark skinned Bedouin, not black but a nice shade of brown. Lets say that this guy has a son. At birth this Bedouins child would be probably of a lighter complexion, if he stays in the sun like his papa his skin will darken and become the same shade as his father. If he doesnt hell probably stay light skinned. Hell probably look more like King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia.jpg
Both of these guys are Arabs. This is also why all through out the middle east bedoins seem to have a darker skin then city dwellers, they aren't exactly a different race usually, they just get more sun.
Usually the elites in the upper classes of Middle Eastern society were light-skinned, they were more or less the same race of the populace; they just didnt do as much backbreaking work in the sun and thus stayed light skinned as they where at birth. This is also the reason that usually lighter-skinned women are sought after practical the world over. This proofs that they arent of common birth and had to work in the fields. (Even in Africa amongst the black Yoruba, I once read that they seek after light skinned women, mind you not white, yellow or red women but women who has kept her dark brown complexion from her birth.)
Getting slightly back on topic, bearing in mind that Cyrus comes from high class and is a King. It would be highly unlikely that he would have a very dark complexion. Saying all this, I do agree he should probably a TAD bit swarthier and have a black beard (even though I have seen light haired Irans they have been in the minority by far).
@Morgrad believe it or not, many people from central Asia can have dark or swarthy complexions by staying in the sun, you could say that they tan easier then most Europeans. Not all Caucasians are Nordic white!
At the very least, this is the way I see it. Take it all with a heap of salt and eggs in the morn.
PS when I say dark I am not referring to black. Theres more to skin color then just black and white tones.
However, what many people fell to realize as they talk about skin color (this guy is so light/dark, the X people are a shade lighter/darker whatever), is that skin color CHANGES depending on how much sunlight someone gets.
For example, look at this picture of a Arabic Bedouin,
http://www.jordanjubilee.com/images/bedouin/Cheikh_Attaieq_5_90.jpg
Our chap looks like a pretty stereotypical Arab dark skinned Bedouin, not black but a nice shade of brown. Lets say that this guy has a son. At birth this Bedouins child would be probably of a lighter complexion, if he stays in the sun like his papa his skin will darken and become the same shade as his father. If he doesnt hell probably stay light skinned. Hell probably look more like King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Abdullah_of_Saudi_Arabia.jpg
Both of these guys are Arabs. This is also why all through out the middle east bedoins seem to have a darker skin then city dwellers, they aren't exactly a different race usually, they just get more sun.
Usually the elites in the upper classes of Middle Eastern society were light-skinned, they were more or less the same race of the populace; they just didnt do as much backbreaking work in the sun and thus stayed light skinned as they where at birth. This is also the reason that usually lighter-skinned women are sought after practical the world over. This proofs that they arent of common birth and had to work in the fields. (Even in Africa amongst the black Yoruba, I once read that they seek after light skinned women, mind you not white, yellow or red women but women who has kept her dark brown complexion from her birth.)
Getting slightly back on topic, bearing in mind that Cyrus comes from high class and is a King. It would be highly unlikely that he would have a very dark complexion. Saying all this, I do agree he should probably a TAD bit swarthier and have a black beard (even though I have seen light haired Irans they have been in the minority by far).
@Morgrad believe it or not, many people from central Asia can have dark or swarthy complexions by staying in the sun, you could say that they tan easier then most Europeans. Not all Caucasians are Nordic white!
At the very least, this is the way I see it. Take it all with a heap of salt and eggs in the morn.
PS when I say dark I am not referring to black. Theres more to skin color then just black and white tones.
Phoenix1595
Lord of the Two Lands
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True. The ancient Persians were part of an Indo-European group in Southern Russia that eventually migrated south. It was not uncommon for them to have red hair and blue eyes (although they would have certainly been more swarthier by the time of Xerxes/Darius). If you check out online the mosaics in Pompeii of Alexander the Great's conquest, you can see that the Persians bear a far closer resemblance to Alexander than to say, the current ayatollah.
Keep in mind that the Middle East has always been a genetic crossroads of sorts for millenia. Different groups have moved in and out, mixing with the local populace. It is because of this that the region has been the most fought over area in history, and remains so to this day.
Anyway, that's why he is seems so "white."
Gaius Octavius
Deity
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Why is Cyrus so... white? I thought Persians were Arabian. Especially after seeing the movie "300" and their Persian army!
There's your first clue. Don't ever rely on movies to represent history accurately.
I have to say, I've known a few Persian people and I honestly would not have known they weren't white (i.e., Western European white) if they hadn't told me.
Bakuel
King
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@Phoenix1595
Speaking of pompeii and ayatollahs, when I say swarthy color, I'm referring to something simialer to the guy on the left in this mosiac.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Pompeii-couple.jpg
If Cyrus was that color, that would be dark enough in my opinon any more and he wouldn't look right. However the man in the mosiac in pompeii looks darker then the current Ayatollah of Iran!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Grand_Ayatollah_Ali_Khamenei,.jpg
Speaking of pompeii and ayatollahs, when I say swarthy color, I'm referring to something simialer to the guy on the left in this mosiac.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Pompeii-couple.jpg
If Cyrus was that color, that would be dark enough in my opinon any more and he wouldn't look right. However the man in the mosiac in pompeii looks darker then the current Ayatollah of Iran!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Grand_Ayatollah_Ali_Khamenei,.jpg
PimpyMicPimp
Regrets His Username.
Why is Aladdin, in Disney's film, just a white guy with a slight tan? Honestly, North American society never really portrays Arabs as realistic; the "good" ones are white and the "bad" ones are characatures.
bonafide11
Worker
granted this portrait is a bit yellowish, but judging from the general tone used, cyrus seems to had been a rather white guy
mesopotamia and the surrounding areas are inhabitated by people that came from the north and east, not from the south (africa). therfor their skin tone is lighter than those of arabs.
Willowmound
Wordbug
It's not just Cyrus who's been "cast" poorly. Look at Monty. Does he look native American to you?
Willowmound
Wordbug
And yes, pay attention people.
Persians are NOT Arabs.
They are Iranians, and they speak Farsi. Arabs speak Arabic. Different alltogether.
Persians are NOT Arabs.
They are Iranians, and they speak Farsi. Arabs speak Arabic. Different alltogether.
Willowmound
Wordbug
Sorry 'bout triple-posting, but this is ridiculous. I know what Iranians look like. They do not look like Firaxis' Cyrus. Use your eyes, man.
Skirmisher
Warlord
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According to the the movie 300, Xerxes was also bald, had no beard, and had numerous piercings. This does not seem correct either. It is an incredibly dumb movie and it has suffered a deserved public backlash.
Chemtech
Chieftain
You're kidding right?
While that MAY have been true 20 years ago we have become so hypersensitized to offending anyone that MOST of our movies/tv shows/commercials only use white guys as the villian/thief/bad guy, heck even if its just a silly commercial where someone has to be the stooge, always a white guy.
