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[122]
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.
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