Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

Cercetae

The Cercetae are an ancient people of Scythia mentioned by Strabo and Pliny the Elder. They are one of many ancient tribes of the Northwestern Caucasus which are the ancestors of modern Circassians. The name "Cercetae" apparently was the basis of the name of the people that arose later - the Circassians. The ethnonym itself of presumably Iranian origin or derived from the κερκέτηζ, is a kind of "stern oar”, and is the nickname given to them by the Greeks due to their skill in the sea business.

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The Cercetae are an ancient people of Scythia mentioned by Strabo1 and Pliny the Elder.2 They are one of many ancient tribes of the Northwestern Caucasus which are the ancestors of modern Circassians.3 The name "Cercetae" apparently was the basis of the name of the people that arose later - the Circassians.3 The ethnonym itself of presumably Iranian origin4 or derived from the κερκέτηζ, is a kind of "stern oar”, and is the nickname given to them by the Greeks due to their skill in the sea business.5

Pliny places them beyond the Amazons and the Hyperboreans, together with the Cimmerii, Cissianti, Achaei, Georgili, Moschi, Phoristae and Rimphaces.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Geographia 11.2
  2. Chorographia 1.12
  3. БСЭ. Керкеты
  4. Новичихин А.М. Керкеты. Псессы. Синды. Тореты
  5. Oleg Trubachyov, Некоторые данные об индоарийском языковом субстрате Северного Кавказа в античное время // Journal of Ancient History № 4. 1978, с. 41