Melanchlaeni (Μελαγχλαῖνοι, meaning "black-cloaks") may refer to three ancient tribes.
The Melanchlaeni of Pliny dwelt in the North of this mapped area. Copper-engraved map, London ca. 1770
Map of the world based on Herodotus' Histories. The Melanchlaeni are in the northernmost part of the world, between the Celts and the Scythians
The first was a nomad tribe, the name of which first appears in Hecataeus (ap.Steph. B., Fr. 154, ed. Klausen). In the geography of Herodotus (iv. 20,100--103,107) they are found occupying the districts east of the Androphagi, and north of the Royal Scythians, 20 days' journey from the Palus Maeotis; over above them were lakes and lands unknown to man. It has been conjectured that Herodotus may refer, through some hearsay statement, to the lakes Ladoga and Onega. There has been considerable discussion among geographers as to the position which should be assigned to this tribe: it is of course impossible to fix this with any accuracy; but there would seem to be reason to place them as far north as the sources of the Volga, or even further. (Schafarik, Slav. Alt. vol. i. p. 295.) Herodotus expressly says that they did not belong to the Scythian-Scolotic stock, although their customs were the same. The name, the Black-cloaks, like that of their cannibal neighbours, the Anthropophagi, was applied to them by the Greeks, and was not a corrupted form of any indigenous appellation.
The second people bearing this name is mentioned by Scylax of Caryanda (p. 32) as a tribe of Pontus. Pomponius Mela (i. 19. § 4) and Pliny (vi. 5) coincide with Scylax, who speaks of two rivers flowing through their territory, the Metasoris (Μετάσωρις), probably the same as the Thessyris (Θέσσυρις, Ptol. v. 9. § § 10, 30: Kamisiliar), and the Aegipius (Αἰγίπιος: Kentichli). Dionysius Periegetes (v. 309) places this people (or perhaps confuses the prior) on the Borysthenes, and Ptolemy (v. 9. § 19) between the river Rha and the Hippici Montes, in Asiatic Sarmatia; but it would be a great error to found any observation concerning these ancient northern tribes upon either the Roman writers or Ptolemy, or to confuse the picture set before us by these geographers, and the more correct delineations of Herodotus.
The third people were the Melanchlaeni of Ammianus (xxii. 8. § 31), which were the Alani.
melanchlaeni, Μελαγχλαῖνοι, meaning, black, cloaks, refer, three, ancient, tribes, pliny, dwelt, north, this, mapped, area, copper, engraved, london, 1770, world, based, herodotus, histories, northernmost, part, world, between, celts, scythians, first, nomad, . Melanchlaeni Melagxlaῖnoi meaning black cloaks may refer to three ancient tribes The Melanchlaeni of Pliny dwelt in the North of this mapped area Copper engraved map London ca 1770 Map of the world based on Herodotus Histories The Melanchlaeni are in the northernmost part of the world between the Celts and the Scythians The first was a nomad tribe the name of which first appears in Hecataeus ap Steph B Fr 154 ed Klausen In the geography of Herodotus iv 20 100 103 107 they are found occupying the districts east of the Androphagi and north of the Royal Scythians 20 days journey from the Palus Maeotis over above them were lakes and lands unknown to man It has been conjectured that Herodotus may refer through some hearsay statement to the lakes Ladoga and Onega There has been considerable discussion among geographers as to the position which should be assigned to this tribe it is of course impossible to fix this with any accuracy but there would seem to be reason to place them as far north as the sources of the Volga or even further Schafarik Slav Alt vol i p 295 Herodotus expressly says that they did not belong to the Scythian Scolotic stock although their customs were the same The name the Black cloaks like that of their cannibal neighbours the Anthropophagi was applied to them by the Greeks and was not a corrupted form of any indigenous appellation The second people bearing this name is mentioned by Scylax of Caryanda p 32 as a tribe of Pontus Pomponius Mela i 19 4 and Pliny vi 5 coincide with Scylax who speaks of two rivers flowing through their territory the Metasoris Metaswris probably the same as the Thessyris 8essyris Ptol v 9 10 30 Kamisiliar and the Aegipius Aἰgipios Kentichli Dionysius Periegetes v 309 places this people or perhaps confuses the prior on the Borysthenes and Ptolemy v 9 19 between the river Rha and the Hippici Montes in Asiatic Sarmatia but it would be a great error to found any observation concerning these ancient northern tribes upon either the Roman writers or Ptolemy or to confuse the picture set before us by these geographers and the more correct delineations of Herodotus The third people were the Melanchlaeni of Ammianus xxii 8 31 which were the Alani See also EditEuropean Scythian campaign of Darius I Melanchlaeni and Cheremis Mari References Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Smith William ed 1854 1857 Melanchlaeni Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography London John Murray This article about ethnicity is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melanchlaeni amp oldid 1084385288, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
