Historical Disputation on Abaris

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Since I have determined to set forth as much as the measure of my strength allows regarding Abaris, I consider it necessary first of all to inquire briefly into the origin of his name. I judge that the term Ἄβαρις Abaris should be sought from no other language than that of the Greeks, and I deduce it from the word Βᾶρις baris, which, according to the opinion of the most excellent lexicographers, designates a kind of barbarian vessel, or, according to Herodotus (α), that species of vessel which the Egyptians used in transporting burdens. To this word Βᾶρις is added the privative a. Thus, Ἄβαρις signifies one who dwells on the mainland and who does not have a ship (for crossing the sea). Thus Hesychius (β) says: "Ἄβαρις ὁ ἠπειρώτης, καὶ μὴ ἔχων βᾶριν Abaris: the mainlander, and one not having a ship."

(α) Book II, p. 78, ed. Heinrich Stephanus, 1570.
(β) Under the entry "Abaris."

I must confess that, upon considering this, no slight doubt has arisen in my mind regarding the name of this philosopher, namely whether it is a proper name, or rather a descriptive title original: "agnomen" bestowed upon this philosopher for the reason that, as it is told, he could cross rivers without a ship. It is well known that Ἄβαρις was a proper name in other contexts, from Virgil (γ), who mentions that a certain soldier serving under Turnus and killed by Euryalus bore this name, when he says: