Question:

Zaporozhian Cossacks ?

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Why have the Zaporozhian Cossacks been portrayed as darker in skin tone, as compared to other European troops? Ukrainians are pretty light pigmented, as far as I know. Does it have to do with imperialism, and associating barbarianism (Zapo's challenged the 'civilized' Russian and Ottoman empires) with darker tans?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sergiy_Vasylkivskiy-_Cossack.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sergiy_Vasylkivskiy-_Cossack_colonel.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Repin_Cossacks.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oboz_Zaporozcow.jpg

Thanks!

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  1. Yes, Ukrainian people in general are quite light-skinned, at least lighter than Greek or southern Italian people (usually, but not always).

    I think that's just how particular artists decided to portray the Zaporozhian Cossacks for whatever reason. I know that people at that time did associate Cossacks as darker-skinned. This is probably due to a fact that many indeed were darker-skinned because the Cossacks unlike other European troops spent much of their time in the open areas of Ukrainian steppes and thus were naturally tanned from constant sun exposure.

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