The naming of Russia (Meddelelser, Nr. 77)

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Universitetet i Oslo Slavisk-baltisk avdeling

Meddelelser 1996 Nr. 77

Håkon Stang: The Naming of Russia

Redaksjon: Kjetil Rå Hauge, Audun Mørch, Tore Nesset, Ole Michael Selberg

Redaksjonens adresse: «Meddelelser» Postboks 1030 Blindern N-0315 OSLO NORWAY E-post: [email protected]

World Wide Web: http://www.hf.uio.no/easteur-orient/Medd/

ISSN 0803-2505 ISBN 82-90250-73-8 Trykk: Strandberg og Nilsen Grafisk A/S Opplag: 300

Håkon Stang

The Naming of Russia

Oslo 1996

A friend of Theodosius II from Sandane, Western Norway, c. 450 AD

Table of Contents

0. Abstract .......................................................................................................9 1. Against Modernocentrism .........................................................................11 1.1. Through the Jamming Noises of Today & Yesterday ............................. 11 1.2. Centre and Periphery in Altrocentrism .................................................... 12 1.3. Historical-Mythological & Multidisciplinary Demand ........................... 14 1.4. A Foretaste of Bygone Years.................................................................... 15 1.5. Another Foretaste: The ‘Varangian’ Question......................................... 16

2. Byzantine Archaism and Princes of ‘Ros ..................................................19 2.1. A General Problem: Lack of Byzantine Sources ..................................... 2.2. Byzantine Literary Atavism ..................................................................... 2.3. Pagan Label plus Christian Addendum.................................................... 2.4. ‘Erul Theories’ to Date ............................................................................ 2.5. The Big Biblical Blunder ......................................................................... 2.6. The Small Biblical Blunder .....................................................................

19 20 22 23 26 28

3. Eruls & Red Germanics .............................................................................29 3.1. Gross-Limbed Foot Soldiers .................................................................... 3.2. ‘Nudes’ and Slave-Holders ...................................................................... 3.3. Fleet and Light-armed.............................................................................. 3.4. Ruddy-blond and Blue-eyed .................................................................... 3.5. Hair Dyed Ruddy-Blond .......................................................................... 3.6. Body Paint & Red Clothing ..................................................................... 3.7. The Red Circus Faction ........................................................................... 3.8. The Name – and ‘Princes of Rös’ ............................................................ 3.9. Marsh-Island Dwellers............................................................................. 3.10. Sea Pirates – the First Vikings? ............................................................. 3.11. The Erul Inscriptions.............................................................................. 3.12. An Eponymous King.............................................................................. 3.13. A ‘Gothic People’ – or Something Else................................................. 3.14. The Gepids ............................................................................................. 3.15. From Germanics to Franks.....................................................................

29 34 36 37 39 42 46 47 49 50 54 57 58 62 64

4. Amazons, Achilles & Azov Islanders ....................................................... 68 4.1. A Maritime Association with Amazons? ................................................. 4.2. Red or Russian Isle?................................................................................. 4.3. Amazons, Goths and Germanics.............................................................. 4.4. The Volga = ‘Rös..................................................................................... 4.5. Amazons and ‘Whites’............................................................................. 4.6. An Erul Ideal – Achilles?......................................................................... 4.7. Meoparots ................................................................................................ 4.8. Cananeos .................................................................................................. 4.9. A Pun from the Azov Sea ........................................................................

68 69 70 72 74 75 81 84 86

5. Gog/Magog: Goths, Huns, Reds, 267-395 ................................................88 5.1. An Early Vaticination .............................................................................. 5.2. Beginning of the End, 378 AD ................................................................ 5.3. Rise of Chiliastic Fears, 390-ies .............................................................. 5.4. St. Jerome – from Complacency to Fear..................................................

88 89 90 91

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5.5. Theodoret & Proclus................................................................................ 93 5.6. Apocalyptic Blonds ................................................................................. 94 5.7. Isidor & Others ........................................................................................ 95 5.8. Yellow Scythians, Red & Germanic Huns .............................................. 97 5.9. Red Jews .................................................................................................. 99 5.10. A Renowned People .............................................................................. 99 5.11. Erul Apologetics .................................................................................. 100 5.12. Ps.-Methodios: Apocalyptic Amazons & Reds ................................... 101

6. Reds & Rosomones: From Afrem to Byzance and the Edda ..................102 6.1. Afrem..................................................................................................... 6.2. Pseudo-Zachariah .................................................................................. 6.3. Rosomones of Jordanes ......................................................................... 6.4. Rosmo Mountains & Burgundians ........................................................ 6.5. Rosomones = ‘Red’ or ‘Swift’ Eruls ..................................................... 6.6. Svanhild and her Folk’s Hue ................................................................. 6.7. Rôle(s) of the Elder Edda ...................................................................... 6.8. Earls of the Elder Edda.......................................................................... 6.9. Red Vikings ........................................................................................... 6.10. The Reddish (‘Rous) Saviour .............................................................. 6.11. Byzantine ‘Rös = ‘Rousioi, ‘Reds’...................................................... 6.12. The Cappadocian Testament ...............................................................

102 103 105 108 111 113 115 118 120 121 123 124

7. Muslim Traditon from Eruls: Reds, Amazons, Whales ...........................126 7.1. Al-˘asan al-Baærï (c. 685), on Non-Horseriders .................................. 7.2. Al-˘asan on Men of Amazons .............................................................. 7.3. Al-˘asan on Maritime Amazons........................................................... 7.4. Al-˘asan on Big Red Amazons............................................................. 7.5. Morisco ms. from Ibn An‘um (d. 763) on Non-Horseriders ................. 7.6. Aragon-Arabic ms. (Date Unknown), on Reds ..................................... 7.7. Nihäyatu l-‘Arab, Cambridge Univ. ms. Qq. 225, on Reds .................. 7.8. Aß-∑a‘bi, c. 700, on Reds near Gog-Magog.......................................... 7.9. Ad-Dïnawarï, c. 895, on Red Amazons ................................................ 7.10. Al-Mas‘üdï, c. 910, on ‘Reds’ a Greek Name..................................... 7.11. Al-Mas‘üdï on Whaling ...................................................................... 7.12. Ibn Fa∂län on Reds, Rüsïya, 922 ........................................................ 7.13. Al-˘asan al-Baærï on Gog-Magog ...................................................... 7.14. Ibn Fa∂län on Ya’ƒüƒ-Ma’ƒüƒ Whaling ............................................. 7.15. Al-Firdawsï, 1050, on Red-’n-Yellow ................................................ 7.16. Amïr ¬usraw, 1299-1300, on Underwater Reds................................. 7.17. Naƒïb Hamadänï, c. 1180 & Amïn Räzï, 1593.................................. 7.18. Ni÷ämï Ganƒevï, 1199........................................................................ 7.19. Abü Manæür (d. c. 980 or 1050?), in Yäqüt ........................................ 7.20. Al-Marväzï .......................................................................................... 7.21. Ad-Dimaßqï:........................................................................................ 7.22. The ‘Reds’ ........................................................................................... 7.23. ‘Ruddy Slavs’ of al-A˛åal.................................................................... 7.24. Islamic Pictorial Art............................................................................. 7.25. Non-Muslims – Procopius, Monomax.................................................

126 126 126 127 127 127 127 128 128 129 129 130 131 132 133 133 134 134 135 135 135 136 137 137 137

8. Renewal of Erul ‘Rus’ Tradition in Spain & Byzance ............................139 8.1. Al-Ya‘qübï on ar-Rüs attacking Sevilla 843-844.................................. 139 8.2. Ibn ˘awqäl on ar-Rüs & Spain ............................................................. 139

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8.3. Ibn ˘awqäl on ar-Rüs attacking Spain of old........................................ 8.4. Al-Mas‘üdï on ar-Rüs in Spain every 200 years ................................... 8.5. Al-Bakrï on Rüs attacking Spain every 200 years................................. 8.6. ‘The Geography Book’ on Rüs raids upon Spain .................................. 8.7. Zhao Jugua on Spain.............................................................................. 8.8. The Explanation ..................................................................................... 8.9. The ‘Rös in 626/860 “and Earlier” ........................................................ 8.10. Why the Eruls Anew? .......................................................................... 8.11. The Xazar Cue ..................................................................................... 8.12. A Greek Accent....................................................................................

140 141 141 142 142 143 144 146 148 150

9. From Byzantium to the Arab West .........................................................152 9.1. Did the 839 ‘Rös Simply End in Ingelheim? ......................................... 9.2. Al-Maqqärï on the Axis Cordoba-Constantinople ................................ 9.3. The Term Maƒüs.................................................................................... 9.4. Theofilos Relieved ................................................................................. 9.5. The ‘Rös a Doomsday People................................................................ 9.6. The Doomsday Peoples Hammered....................................................... 9.7. A Doomsday Bas-Relief ........................................................................ 9.8. Two Riddles on the ‘Rös........................................................................

152 152 153 157 157 159 162 162

10. Rüs Attack Amastris & Suro¢ from the West? .....................................164 10.1. The Amastris & Suroç Problem........................................................... 10.2. Ibn al-Qüåïya on 844 raid to Byzantium.............................................. 10.3. Sebastian of Salamanca on 844 raid to Byzantium.............................. 10.4. ‘Book of Geography’ on raid to Marmara Sea .................................... 10.5. George of Amastris & Stephan of Suroç on 842 raid? ........................ 10.6. The ‘Spanish’ solution ......................................................................... 10.7. The Propontis Problem ........................................................................ 10.8. Flavius Blondus on the 860 Attack......................................................

164 165 165 165 166 168 169 170

11. From Byzantium to the Arab East .........................................................172 11.1. A Dreadful Dream, 842........................................................................ 11.2. Goal of 842 Caravan ............................................................................ 11.3. Rôle of al-¯azäl? ................................................................................. 11.4. Rôle of a POW? ................................................................................... 11.5. Rôle of Arabs in Byzantium ................................................................ 11.6. Rôle of a VIP?...................................................................................... 11.7. Why 842? ............................................................................................. 11.8. Bal‘amï ................................................................................................ 11.9. A Xazar Continuation; and al-Marvazï ...............................................

172 173 174 174 176 176 177 178 179

12. Al-¬wärizmi’s Innovations, c. 846, and the Amazons .........................180 12.1. The (A)rüs River .................................................................................. 12.2. The Swamp .......................................................................................... 12.3. The Amazon Isles and the Baltic ......................................................... 12.4. The Two Rivers of Russia.................................................................... 12.5. A Persian Anonymous on Far-North Maeotis ..................................... 12.6. The ‘Northern Opening’ in Jordanes ...................................................

181 182 182 184 185 185

13. Arabic & Other Confirmation: Amazons & Red Nudes ....................... 187 13.1. Marshy Isle of Ibn Rusta, etc. .............................................................. 13.2. The Amazons ....................................................................................... 13.3. Ni÷ämï Ganƒevï on Red Russians....................................................... 13.4. Ni÷ämï Ganƒevï’s Erul tradition.........................................................

187 188 190 191

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14. ‘Third Rus’ & Ladoga ...........................................................................194 14.1. Sources on Third Rus´ ......................................................................... 14.2. Third Rus´ – scholarly status ............................................................... 14.3. The Veps Venue .................................................................................. 14.4. Rjurik & Beloozero ............................................................................. 14.5. Name of Old Ladoga ........................................................................... 14.6. Rôle of Old Ladoga ............................................................................. 14.7. Al-Mas‘üdï on Ladoga & Rüs............................................................. 14.8. The “Others, Called Rus´”................................................................... 14.9. Veps ‘Founders’ ..................................................................................

194 194 196 199 199 200 201 202 203

15. Greek Confirmations: Tavroscythians & Runners ................................205 15.1. Tavroscythians, Tavrohuns, Eudosians ............................................... 15.2. Crimean ‘Thulians’.............................................................................. 15.3. Russian Letters of Kirill ...................................................................... 15.4. Thietmar from Merseburg on Fleet Danes .......................................... 15.5. Ps.-Symeon on ‘Rös-Dromitai............................................................. 15.6. Ravenna Anonymous on Fleet Danes.................................................. 15.7. Symeon Magister on ‘Rös-Dromitas ................................................... 15.8. Theophanes Continuatus on ‘Rös-Dromitai ........................................ 15.9. Leo Diaconus....................................................................................... 15.10. The Myrmidons ................................................................................. 15.11. Photios on the ‘Rös, 860....................................................................

205 209 210 212 213 216 217 217 218 219 220

16. Kievan Confirmations ............................................................................223 16.1. Magog in Kiev ..................................................................................... 16.2. Church Slavonic Roß ........................................................................... 16.3. ‘Red Goths’, ‘Red Russia’................................................................... 16.4. Stepennaja Kniga................................................................................. 16.5. Nestor Chronicle’s Dating of Russia ................................................... 16.6. The Xaqän-Rüs.................................................................................... 16.7. The Primogenitor Prince Rus .............................................................. 16.8. Archon of ‘Rös .................................................................................... 16.9. Swedes or Danes, 839 AD? ................................................................. 16.10. Bavarian Anonymous on Ruzzi......................................................... 16.11. Slavonic Rusyj...................................................................................

223 224 224 226 228 230 231 232 235 236 236

17. Far-Northern Confirmation: Adam of Bremen ......................................238 17.1. Bertinian Annals, 839 .......................................................................... 17.2. Gog-Magog go North .......................................................................... 17.3. Neighbours of the ‘Rös........................................................................ 17.4. Adam’s Baltic Wonders....................................................................... 17.5. The Monks........................................................................................... 17.6. From Red Men to Green...................................................................... 17.7. The Husos ............................................................................................ 17.8. Ansgar.................................................................................................. 17.9. A Neologism Introduced by Some Greeks Calling on Ingelheim? ..... 17.10. The 839 Visitors ................................................................................

238 239 240 243 244 245 247 248 249 250

18. Far-Northern Confirmation – Saxo & Snorri ........................................252 18.1. Saxo’s Varangian Tales ....................................................................... 18.2. Saxo’s Ruthenians ............................................................................... 18.3. Saxo’s Rus[i]la .................................................................................... 18.4. Saxo’s Hellespontians..........................................................................

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252 252 255 256

18.5. Snorri’s El[l]ipalta ............................................................................... 18.6. Snorri on Oåinn’s Friends.................................................................... 18.7. Whither Oåinn? The North Houts........................................................ 18.8. Chronicle of the Normandy Dukes ......................................................

258 259 261 262

19. Rus´: The Phonetics ..............................................................................265 19.1. The Problem......................................................................................... 19.2. The Norse Venue ................................................................................. 19.3. The Gothic Venue ................................................................................ 19.4. The Slavonic Venue............................................................................. 19.5. The Veps Venue................................................................................... 19.6. Veps ‘Reds’.......................................................................................... 19.7. The Joint Ladogan Venue .................................................................... 19.8. The Palatalized Ending ........................................................................ 19.9. Palatalization from Slavonic? .............................................................. 19.10. On Russia ........................................................................................... 19.11. Rjurik & Bros. Revisited....................................................................

265 267 267 271 273 274 275 276 279 282 284

20. Ruotsi: The Phonetics ...........................................................................285 20.1. Rus´ from *rötsi ‘Rowers’? First Try .................................................. 20.2. Rus´ from *rötsi ‘Rowers’? Second Try .............................................. 20.3. Or is Rus´ interethnic? ......................................................................... 20.4. Veps & Komi ro™ ................................................................................. 20.5. Saami Ruoß´ßa from Veps ................................................................... 20.6. Age and Meaning of *Rötsi ................................................................. 20.7. What Happened? ..................................................................................

285 287 289 291 293 294 297

Bibliography.................................................................................................300

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0. Abstract “...ibo u grek imq rusx, ili rosx, zadolgo do R