The Cercetae are an ancient people of Scythia mentioned by Strabo[1] and Pliny the Elder.[2] They are one of many ancient tribes of the Northwestern Caucasus which are the ancestors of modern Circassians.[3] The name "Cercetae" apparently was the basis of the name of the people that arose later - the Circassians.[3] The ethnonym itself of presumably Iranian origin[4] or derived from the κερκέτηζ, is a kind of "stern oar”, and is the nickname given to them by the Greeks due to their skill in the sea business.[5]

Pliny places them beyond the Amazons and the Hyperboreans, together with the Cimmerii, Cissianti, Achaei, Georgili, Moschi, Phoristae and Rimphaces.

See also

References

  1. ^ Geographia 11.2
  2. ^ Chorographia 1.12
  3. ^ a b БСЭ. Керкеты
  4. ^ Новичихин А.М. Керкеты. Псессы. Синды. Тореты
  5. ^ Oleg Trubachyov, Некоторые данные об индоарийском языковом субстрате Северного Кавказа в античное время // Journal of Ancient History № 4. 1978, с. 41


Categories