A woodcut depicts a central rose-like flower flanked by symmetrical, swirling acanthus leaves and smaller floral blossoms.

PREFACE.

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Do not be surprised, excellent Reader, that I strive today to bring into the public light Abaris, who has been wrapped in the deepest darkness until this very day. I confess that Abaris drew his origin from the Scythian people, whom some consider to be savage, uncultivated, barely different from beasts, and hateful to all. I fear that for this very reason he may be detested by all. However, it cannot be denied in any way that the Scythian nation is afflicted with the greatest injustice by those enemies of the Scythian name. I trust that no one who is not completely ignorant of history is unaware of this. Indeed, we read that the Scythians were celebrated for their integrity of character, supreme justice, commendable simplicity, and the fame of their glorious deeds. Furthermore, learned and most scholarly men have consigned to writing that the origin of the Germans themselves must be sought among them. In particular, Boxhorn Marcus Zuerius van Boxhorn (1612–1653), a Dutch scholar known for his studies on the origins of European languages and peoples. attempted to prove this with weighty arguments and with his most outstanding genius and singular erudition, which one can see he possessed from the illustrious monuments he made public. But let us also assume that the Scythians, in the manner that their most hostile enemies desire, were of that nature; yet it could still be confirmed by very many testimonies, if necessary, that there were great minds among them as well. Indeed, Abaris himself clearly demonstrated by his own example that the things reported about the Scythians are entirely contrary to the truth. This has been demonstrated by me more copiously in this exercise. To this, therefore, I direct the benevolent Reader, and at the same time I ask of him especially that he receive this with an impartial mind, and if he perceives that I have erred in any point, let him consider that I am but a human being. In the meantime, however, I have striven with all my might so that whatever I encountered in the reading of both Greek and Latin authors concerning Abaris, and whatever I deemed particularly relevant, I might communicate with the most kind Readers, if there happen to be any, with the proper fidelity. If, therefore, anyone finds in this little work something that can hold his attention with some pleasure, that will bring me the greatest capacity for joy and will incite me, with the help of the Supreme Being, to proceed in my studies with even greater fervor and delight. Farewell.