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Abasgoi

Map «Imperii Orientalis et Circumjacentium Regionum»
(Abkhazians, Abazins) Abkhazians, Abazins (including those of ancestral descent)
Regions with significant populations
North-West Black Sea coast
Languages
Abazgi language
Related ethnic groups
Agri (Maeotae) Heniochi Arrechi Aspurgiani Cercetae Dandarii Dosci Maeotians Obidiaceni Sittaceni Tarpetes Toreatae Apsilae Sanigs Misimians Zygii

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

By the 6th century Abasgia shifted to the north 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.

They are mentioned by Lycophron, Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Arrian; the 6th-century Byzantine historian Procopius wrote that they were warlike, worshiped tree deities and provided eunuchs to Justinian's court.

The Abasgoi are considered the ancestors of modern Abkhaz, Abazin and the Georgian ethnonym (Georgian: აფხაზი apxazi) "Abkhaz" is derived from the name «abasgi, abaza».

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.
3. Nicholson, Oliver, ed. (2018). The Oxford dictionary of late antiquity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198816251. The Oxford dictionary of late antiquity places Abasgoi to the south of Apsilae which is contradicted by all other sources and is an apparent mistake
4. ^ Olson, James Stuart; Nicholas Charles Pappas (1994). An Ethnohistorical dictionary of the Russian and Soviet empires. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-313-27497-8.
5. Allen, William Edward David (1932). A History of the Georgian People: From the Beginning Down to the Russian Conquest in the Nineteenth Century. Taylor & Francis. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7100-6959-7.

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.

v t e Historical regions of Georgia
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Adjara	Machakhela Chaneti
Guria	Lazika Surebi
Imereti	Argveti Vake Mukhurisi Okriba Sachino Sajavakho
Kakheti	Garekakheti Gagmamkhari Gujareti Kiziki Hereti Saingilo Tusheti
Kvemo Kartli	Borchalo Gardabani Gachiani Dmaniskhevi
Mtskheta-Mtianeti	Mtiuleti Mukhrani Pshavi Pkhovi Tskhavati Ksniskhevi Tskhradzmiskhevi Tsanareti Tsilkani Tsobeni Tchartali Khada Khandro Khevi Khevsureti Kherki Khorkhi
Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti	Takveri Lechkhumi Racha Kvemo Svaneti
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti	Egrisi Odishi Sabediano Samegrelo Svaneti
Shida Kartli	Bazaleti Dvaleti Maghrandvaleti Samachablo Zena Sopeli
Tao-Klarjeti	Tao Klarjeti Speri Kola Shavsheti Ardahan Nigali Basiani Sokhoista Zemo Kartli Tori Trialeti Samtskhe Javakheti

• Ancient peoples of Georgia (country)
• Tribes in Greco-Roman historiography
• History of Abkhazia