1. Now they were the grandchildren of Noah, in honor of whom names were
imposed on the nations by those that first seized upon them. Japhet, the
son of Noah, had seven sons: they inhabited so, that, beginning at the
mountains Taurus and Amanus, they proceeded along Asia, as far as the
river Tansis, and along Europe to Cadiz; and settling themselves on the
lands which they light upon, which none had inhabited before, they
called the nations by their own names. For Gomer founded those whom the
Greeks now call Galatians, [Galls,] but were then called Gomerites.
Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by
the Greeks called Scythians. Now as to Javan and Madai, the sons of
Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans, who are called Medes, by the
Greeks; but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived. Thobel
founded the Thobelites, who are now called Iberes; and the Mosocheni
were founded by Mosoch; now they are Cappadocians. There is also a mark
of their ancient denomination still to be shown; for there is even now
among them a city called Mazaca, which may inform those that are able to
understand, that so was the entire nation once called. Thiras also
called those whom he ruled over Thirasians; but the Greeks changed the
name into Thracians. And so many were the countries that had the
children of Japhet for their inhabitants. Of the three sons of Gomer,
Aschanax founded the Aschanaxians, who are now called by the Greeks
Rheginians. So did Riphath found the Ripheans, now called Paphlagonians;
and Thrugramma the Thrugrammeans, who, as the Greeks resolved, were
named Phrygians. Of the three sons of Javan also, the son of Japhet,
Elisa gave name to the Eliseans, who were his subjects; they are now the
Aeolians. Tharsus to the Tharsians, for so was Cilicia of old called;
the sign of which is this, that the noblest city they have, and a
metropolis also, is Tarsus, the tau being by change put for the theta.
Cethimus possessed the island Cethima: it is now called Cyprus; and from
that it is that all islands, and the greatest part of the sea-coasts,
are named Cethim by the Hebrews: and one city there is in Cyprus that
has been able to preserve its denomination; it has been called Citius by
those who use the language of the Greeks, and has not, by the use of
that dialect, escaped the name of Cethim. And so many nations have the
children and grandchildren of Japhet possessed. Now when I have premised
somewhat, which perhaps the Greeks do not know, I will return and
explain what I have omitted; for such names are pronounced here after
the manner of the Greeks, to please my readers; for our own country
language does not so pronounce them: but the names in all cases are of
one and the same ending; for the name we here pronounce Noeas, is there
Noah, and in every case retains the same termination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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