Citation with stable link: Philip A. Harland, 'Scythians: Alexander Polyhistor on Iamians and just Abians (mid-first century BCE),' Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ancient World, last modified May 27, 2024, https://philipharland.com/Blog/?p=18265.

Ancient authors: Diophantos (third century BCE [?]), FGrHist 805 F2; Alexander Polyhistor (first century BCE), FGrHist 273 F14-15, as cited by Stephanos of Byzantion, Ethnika at “Abians” and “Iamians” (link to FGrHist).

Comments: These brief citations of Alexander Polyhistor’s work On the Euxine Sea or On the Pontos (i.e. the Black Sea) have him dealing with a variety of northern Pontic peoples, including Homer’s supposed “just” or noble Abians. On this also see Strabo’s citation of Ephoros (link). Polyhistor attempts to outline the reasons for them being considered just.

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Abians (Abioi): A Skythian people (ethnos). Homer [Iliad 13.6] writes, “The Galaktophagian (milk-eating) Abians are the most just among men.” In Alexander‘s book On the Euxine Sea, he writes that “Diophantos said they are called this because they live along the Abianos river.” Homer said that they were just men because they did not want to join the Amazons in engaging in war with Asia, or that they are said to not be accustomed to a settled life because they are carried in wagons.” But Didymos says they are a Thracian people.

῎Αβιοι· ἔθνος Σκυθικόν. Ὅμηρος Γλακτοφάγων ᾽Αβίων τε, δικαιοτάτων ἀνθρώπων. ᾽Αλέξανδρος δὲ ἐν τῶι Περὶ Εὐξείνου Πόντου φησίν, ὡς Διόφαντος εἶπεν οὕτω λέγεσθαι αὐτοὺς διὰ τὸ τὸν ᾽Αβιανὸν ποταμὸν κατοἰκεῖν. δικαίους δ᾽ εἶπεν Ὅμηρος διὰ τὸ μὴ βουληθῆναι μετὰ τῶν ᾽Αμαζόνων ἐπὶ τὴν ᾽Ασίαν στρατεῦσαι ἢ ὅτι βίωι ἑδραίωι οὐ χρῶνται οὕτω λέγονται, διὰ τὸ ἐφ᾽ ἁμαξῶν φέρεσθαι. Δίδυμος δὲ Θράικιον φησίν.

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Iamians (Iamoi). A Skythian people (ethnos), as Alexander tells the story in On the Euxine Sea.

῎Ιαμοι· Σκυθίας ἔθνος, ὡς ᾽Αλέξανδρος ἐν τῶι Περὶ Εὐξείνου Πόντου μυθολογεῖ.

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Source of the translation: Translation by Harland.