Basil II's Epitaph

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I was taking a look at this and was slightly perplexed by this line:

The Persians and Scythians bear witness to this
and along with them Abasgos, Ismael, Araps, Iber.

Now I'm figuring Iber must be Iberia (the Caucasus one), but the other 3 I'm not really sure on. Ismael are Jews perhaps, and Araps maybe Arabs? Can anyone clarify who these peoples are? Thanks.

[Hurin_Rules]

Could Ismael refer to the branch of Shiites, the Ismailis?

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/I/Ismailis.asp

[Rosacrux redux]

Apparently, Abazgos (Αβάσγοι in Greek) must've been the Abkhazians. Around the time of Basile the Byzantines called the Abkhazians and Georgians under the collective "Αβάσγοι", but I could be mistaken.

I am not sure with Ismael. The Byzantines have used this term to refer to the actual Ismaelites, Arabs in general, Egyptian Arabs, Turks and various others, including Jews. As they have used "Skythians" to refer to Huns, Bulgars, Turks, Mongols, Avars and various other steppe people. "Araps" would refer to "Arapia" (Αραπιά, see also Αράπης) meaning the saracens in general - in modern Greek arapis came to mean "nigger". Iber should be Iveres, Iberians (of the Caucasus region).

Do you have the whole text online? I haven't seen this epitaph and I am quite interested into it. I would be especially interested in the original greek text.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

I can get you the full translation but not the original Greek.

[Rosacrux redux]

the translation should suffice, then. I'll try to locate the Greek text one of these days in some library here, it has sparked my interest.

[Mount Suribachi]

Ismael would refer to the Arabs. Both Jews and Arabs/Muslims (yes I know they're not the same thing) regard themselves as children of Abraham, but the Jews trace their line through Isaac, the Arabs through Ismael. As you go on through the Old Testament, periodically this tension between the 2 people groups flares up.

[Rosacrux redux]

I don't think by Ismaeli in this particular passege they refer to Arabs generally - the word "Araps" is used only for the Arabs (generally, meaning practically the Muslims and is usually interchangable with "Saracens") and it is present in this passage.

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Here's the full thing:

Other past emperors

previously designated for themselves other burial places.

But I Basil, born in the purple chamber,

place my tomb on the site of the Hebdomon [Palace]

and take sabbath's rest from the endless toils

which I satisfied in wars and which I endured.

For nobody saw my spear at rest,

from when the Emperor of Heaven called me

to the rulership of this great empire on earth,

but I kept vigilant through the whole span of my life

guarding the children of New Rome

marching bravely to the West,

and as far as the very frontiers of the East.

The Persians and Scythians bear witness to this

and along with them Abasgos, Ismael, Araps, Iber.

And now, good man, looking upon this tomb

reward it with prayers in return for my campaigns.

[silencio]

Scythians would definetely refer to the Bulgars. BaislII, aka Bulgaroktonus led major wars against the Bulgars, finally subjugating them around 1018.

[Steppe Merc]

Scythians would definetely refer to the Bulgars. BaislII, aka Bulgaroktonus led major wars against the Bulgars, finally subjugating them around 1018.

Not necsarily just Bulgars, likely also Turks and any other nomads or former nomads....

[Seleukos]

Well,for Byzantines (as they are mostly found) :
Turks=Persians (Περσαι)
Georgians=Ibers (Ιβηρες)
Bulgars=Mysians (Μυσοι)
Pechenegs(or sometimes Cumans or other nomads)=Scythians (Σκυθαι)
Saracenes(muslims in general)=Saracens or Agarenoi(insulting) (Σαρακηνοι-Αγαρηνοι)
Serbians=Trivalloi (Τριβαλλοι)
Hungarians=Turks (Τουρκοι)
Westerns (Normans -Franks)=Celts (Κελται)
and so on..

Most of these are achaic names of factions and nations that lived in the same place where the previous nations settled.
So,since somebody should study Ancient Greek writers to be considered as well educated,beside the ancient "attic" dialect he should use these names too.