HERODOTUS ABOUT THE “SARDEAN”

Abstract

The ancient Greek historian Herodotus, in his famous work, recounts the origin of the ancient Georgian tribes, namely the Colchis (Herodotus, II, 103-104). He writes that the Colchis are of Egyptian origin. According to his main arguments, the Colchis, like the Egyptians, practiced male circumcision, were curly-haired and dark-skinned, cultivated flax in the same way, etc.
Herodotus notes that “only the Colchis and the Egyptians cultivate flax in the same way”, adding: “The Greeks call the Colchian flax Sardonic, and that which comes from Egypt Egyptian” (Herodotus, II, 105).
Prof. T. Kaukhchishvili notes in this regard – “This information is very interesting and still unclear – is this name accidental or is it a regular connection between Colchian and Sardonic (i.e., Sardinian)?” (Herodotus, History, I, Ts., 1975. pp. 28-29).
The work develops the idea that, in fact, the Colchis flax was called “Sardean”, since in the second half of the 7th century BC and in the first half of the 6th century BC, the Colchis were subject to the Lydians and the flax passed through the Lydian capital, i.e., Sardes, into the Hellenic world. Accordingly, in Herodotus’ text, perhaps due to a technical error made during the word copying process, instead of Sardonic (σαρδόνικον), i.e., Sardinian, it should be Sardean (ςαρδενικον).