Historical Disputation on Abaris

however, why Iamblichus said nothing about this matter, I am certainly persuaded, was none other than because he, as a Greek, envied Abaris, from the Scythian race—which according to the opinion of many is considered rude—that glory of having derived his origin, namely, that he taught Pythagoras.

(υ) Historical Commentaries, Book I, ch. IV, p. 9, edition of Leiden, 1620, 4to.
(φ) On the Wrath of God, ch. XI, p. 638.
(χ) On the City of God, Book XVIII, ch. XIV, Vol. VI of his Works, p. 610.
(ψ) In Life of Pythagoras, ch. XIX, p. 91, edition by Jo. Arcerius Theodoretus, Heidelberg, 1619, 4to.
(ω) Knights, Act II, Sc. II, line 35, p. 331, edition by Aemylius Portus, Geneva, 1607, folio.
(α) In Thesaurus of Time, no. 1568, Amsterdam edition, 1658, folio.
(β) In the Chronicle.
(γ) In Life of Pythagoras, p. 136.
(δ) Ibid., ch. XIX, p. 92.
(ε) In the entry "Pythagoras." Vol. III, p. 231, Ludolph Kuster, Cambridge, 1705, folio. Vol. III.

Porphyry (ζ) is our authority that Abaris also perceived the principal heads of magic from Pythagoras: For unalterable predictions of earthquakes are recorded for him (namely Pythagoras), and rapid averting of plagues, and the calming of violent winds and falling hail, and the clearing of river and sea waves for the easy passage of his companions. Of which Empedocles, Epimenides, and Abaris, having partaken, have performed such things in many places. But since various kinds of magic are constituted by the most distinguished writers on this matter, I believe I must now carefully inquire into which of them Abaris was addicted. For we read in most authors that there was a twofold magic among the ancients, of which they called one goeteia (sorcery), baskania (witchcraft), and theourgia (theurgy), but the other sympatheia (sympathy) or antipatheia (antipathy). They believed that the former species of magic, or goeteia, baskania, or theourgia, consisted in incantations, deceptions, the transformation of oneself as well as others, the evocation of demons and their ministries, which it is by no means permitted or allowed for humans to use.