Historical Disputation on Abaris

But I would have wished that this most learned man had added the arguments by which he was led to write these things, since I cannot persuade myself at all that the authority of Hippostratus alone was so great among the most learned Fabricius that he would reject the opinion of the remaining writers who make him a contemporary of Pythagoras and agree with Hippostratus. Edward Simson (ν), while desiring to combine these various opinions, fell into Scylla while trying to avoid Charybdis. For he posits that there were two Abarises, the former of whom lived in the 3rd Olympiad, the latter in the 54th Olympiad. But it is easy to see that Simson is clearly destitute of sufficient arguments to prove this opinion.

(λ) Bibliotheca of Greek Writers, Part I, Book II, ch. II, no. VII, p. 10, Hamburg, 1705, 4to.
(μ) In the entry "Abaris."
(ν) In Catholic Chronology, Part III, no. 3442, Oxford edition, 1652, folio.

§. XI.

Since I have been just a bit too prolix in reviewing the various opinions regarding the age of Abaris, I think it is time to put an end to speaking about this matter and to proceed to his lineage and other more distinguished things. Therefore, what lineage Abaris had is entirely uncertain. For regarding his parents, no writer, as far as I know, contributes anything. For they do not make us more certain about the condition or origin of our philosopher's father, but they only make mention of that name. We learn, therefore, from Suidas (ξ) that he was called Seuthes: Abaris, he says, a Scythian, son of Seuthes. But who that Seuthes was, as I have already said, all are silent. For various men who were called by the name of Seuthes are mentioned here and there by Greek writers. Thus, Arrian mentions a certain Seuthes, a King of Thrace, with whom Lysimachus, a successor of Alexander in Thrace, fought with adverse fortune. Suidas (π) also mentions a King of Thrace who is said to have enjoyed the name of Seuthes, when he says that he