Skariphos

[pp. 3-4]

"SKARIPHOS" ("A Sketch of the Earth")

(about 555 A.D.)

It is a fragment, in Syriac, included in a collection of writings on Church History by Zacharias Rhetor (about 536). The "Sketch" is presumably dated about 555 A.D.

Ed.: J.P.N. Land, Anecdota Syriaca. t. IX, Leiden 1870; (text from Brit.Mus.,KS.Add.17, 202<ref>In a fragment of the other MS of the same work some variants are found, as we shall show below</ref> and Add. 14, 620).

T.: E.W. Brooks (CSCO, t. II, Paris 1921, p. 202). S:1

Countries of Kūsh, the Outer.

Kūsh, the Outer, has forty-three towns.<ref>Var. : "45 towns".</ref> There are also the mountains of Pan<ref>Var. : "Paran".</ref> and peoples<ref>Var. : "People of a short stature".</ref> who dwell near Tôbuzin. To the east of them there dwell the root-eaters and another people near them, called Awksesmetê. Then come the Shaberiyê, the Môlebîyê, the Barqîyê and the Belemes<ref>Var. : "Belemus".</ref> and further on, towards the interior, there are the Amtiyê. West of the latter dwell the sparrow-eaters, and south of these, a people who are the Qatâphrê of frankincense: this is the country whence the beet comes. Below this people, there are the Pesendarê<ref>In the margin "Pousîdewê".</ref> who live on elephants. In the innermost part of the country there is [p. 4] a region where the cynnamom grows. The end of Kūsh, the Outer: 45 famous towns and nine peoples. Kūsh, the Inner includes the mountain Laînes,<ref>Var. : "Laînôs'"</ref> whence the three lakes of Nîlôs receive the snow. To the east of this mountain dwell cannibals. In the inner part of their territory there are the Rapsâyê Kushâyê. The Kushâyê people who eat fish are found as far as the western Oqeânôs. South of the uninhabited land, one finds the Hesperian Kushâyê and others, who dwell in the water and live on fruits. To the east of these Kushâyê, there is the country of the white elephant, called Atâur,<ref>Var. : "Atra'"</ref> and a nameless mountain. The end of Kūsh with its 43 towns.<ref>Where six peoples are found. The Kushâyê are divided into three races (MC 379r) which are quoted in "Anecdota syriaca" t. II, ed. J.P.N. Land, Leiden, 1870, (pp. 379-380).</ref>

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