But as far as I'm aware, Itil (a.k.a. Atil
or Atel) was primarily the name of the city (founded in the 7th century) in the
delta of the Volga (near modern Astrakhan), where the Khazars moved their
capital ca. 750, turning it into a great trading centre and a must-see for
travellers. This is how the Volga came to be known as the Itil River in the
Middle Ages. But did anybody call it "Itil" or "Atil" in the fifth
century?
Piotr
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 9:13 AM
Subject: [tied] Re: Language - Area - Routes
Volga's Turkic name sounds like Atil (if I recollect
correctly).
Sergei