Abasgoi

The Abasgoi or Abasgians (Ancient Greek: Αβασγοί, Abasgoi, and Ancient Greek: Ἁβασκοί, Abaskoi; Latin: Abasci, Abasgi;[1] Georgian: აბაზგები, Abazgebi; compare Abkhaz Абазаа [aˈbazaː] "the Abaza people") were one of the ancient tribes inhabiting western Abkhazia, who originally inhabited lands north of Apsilae, corresponding to today's Ochamchira District. In 550, during the Lazic War, the Abasgians revolted against the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and called upon Sasanian assistance.[2] General Bessas however suppressed the Abasgian revolt.[2]

Abasgi to the of Absilae in a Colchis, Iberia, Albania etc. map of Guillaume Sanson, 1667

In the 6th and 7th centuries the Abasgoi migrated northwards and occupied territory between Gumista and Bzyb rivers, while another tribe, the Sanigs, lived to the north of them. In the time of Arrian, they were said to live on the banks of the Abascus or Abasgus river, an otherwise unidentified river flowing into the Euxine.[3]

There is a difference of opinion about the ethnicity of the Abazgs, some scholars consider them to be Adyghe tribes of North Caucasian origin and considered them as the ancestors of present-day Abkhazians. while others consider them to be Kartvelian tribes. At the same time, it is suggested that the Abazgs are a tribe of the same Kartvelian origin as the surrounding Egres (lazs), Svans and others, while the modern Abkhazians are the Apsua tribe whom migrated from the North Caucasus in the 17th century.

See also

• Apsilae

References

1.  Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Abasci" . Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
2. Odisheli 2018, pp. 1-2. sfn error: no target: CITEREFOdisheli2018 (help)
3.  Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Abasci" . Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

Sources

• Odisheli, Manana (2018). "Abasgia". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-866277-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)