Historical Dissertation on Abaris

Joseph (δ) also attributes this name to a certain mountain, on which Moses departed from life, as can be read in Deuteronomy chapter 32, verse 49, which was situated in the region of Jericho: he says, "As he came to the mountain called Abaris, this is located high opposite Jericho." The same Joseph (ε) also makes mention of it from Nicolaus of Damascus, when he says: "There is a great mountain above the Minyas in Armenia called Abaris, to which it is said that many fled during the flood and were saved. And some, riding on a wooden chest, reached the summit, and the remains of the wood were preserved for a long time." From this, Fuller thinks that this mountain, because the remains of the Baris ship/barge or Noah’s Ark had been preserved on it for a long period of time, acquired that name Abaris from then on, and that not only that mountain, but also the temple which was built in that place, was so called, because perhaps the remains of that vessel were stored in that temple. Therefore, I do not doubt this, whether Abaris is otherwise a proper name; but I am uncertain about this, whether this name was the proper name of our philosopher and not more rightly a surname. Since it matters little whether Abaris was the proper name of our philosopher or not, there is no need for me to say more words about this matter. I think I should say a few words instead about the various names by which some writers report our philosopher to have been called.

(γ) Aeneid, Book IX, verse 343. page 693, Amsterdam edition, 1690, 4to.
(δ) Antiquities of the Jews, Book V, chapter VIII, page 132, Leipzig edition, 1696, folio.
(ε) Ibid. Book I, chapter IV.

§. III.

Among those, therefore, who seem to attribute various names to Abaris, let the Greek Interpreter of Aristophanes (ζ) take the first place, who calls him Barin Baris: "And thus," he says, "just as"