Hi Thomas,

> I wonder any one in this group knows the Buddha's racial appearance
> according to the Pali texts.

In the Ambattha sutta (DN 3
http://metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/1Digha-Nikaya/Digha1/03-ambattha-e.htm
) Buddha says that the Sakyas trace their ancestry to king Okkaka
(Iksvaku http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikshvaku ).

Hence Gotama belonged by birth to the Sun dynasty of Ariya Vedic
civilization.

Besides, Greeks and many writers and scholars since, have connected
Sakya to the Scythians

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythia

Regards,
Dmytro