Satarchae, Sadagarii, Sagartioi, Sargetae, Asagarta; Ásgarð-?

Tuomo Pekkanen
The Ethnic Origins of the δουλοσποροι
pp 144-149

'THE SATARCHAE - SADAGARII
Above I arrived at the conclusion that the Sarmatae Limigantes (Limig-Antes, servi Sarmatarum) represent the same subjected population called σκύθαι `αροτήρες - γεωργοί by Herodotus. The ruling Iranian class was in Herodotus' time the σκύθαι βασιλήιοι, and in the 4th century A.D. it was known by the name Sarmatae Argaragantes (Argarag-Antes, domini). It was also established that according to the accepted opinion the Slavonic word spolin, ispolin 'giant' derives its origin from the name of the Spali (Iord. Get. 28 Spali, Plin. nat. 6, 22 Spalaei). As Pliny in nat. 6, 22 classes the Spali among the tribes known as Satarchae (Satharchei), the presumed identity of Spali with spolin, ispolin implies that not only the Spali, as Dvornik thinks, but also the Satarchae were in control of the primitive Slavs. On these assumptions the Royal Scythians, Satarchae, and Sarmatae Argaragantes are at least comparable in that in relation to the Slavs they represent the ruling population in different periods. Therefore it is possible that other connections might also exist between these three groups.

As a matter of fact Müllenhoff has already pointed out that the Satarchae (σατορχαι~οι) of Callistratus occupied approximately the same area as the Royal Scythians of Herodotus.1 The location of these two groups suggests that the Satarchae may have been remnants of the Royal Scythians.2 This hypothesis is to some extent also supported by the fact that in Plin. nat. 4, 85 the Satarchae are expressly called Scythians.3

It seems to me possible that the name of the Satarchae may have a connection with the Sadagarii of Iord. Get. 265. The last to have discussed this name is Wagner,4 who rejects the suggestion of Zeuss that the Sadagarii may be the same group which in Iord. Get. 272-273 is called Sadagis.5 Wagner, however, has paid no attention to the variants of these two names found in the MSS. of Jordanes: Get. 265 Sauromatae vero quos Sarmatas dicimus et Ce­mandri et quidam ex Hunnis parte Illyrici ad Castramartenam urbem sedes sibi datas coluerunt. ex quo genere fuit Blivila dux Pentapolitanus eiusque germanus Froila et nostri temporis Bessa patricius. Scyri vero et Sadagarii (sadagari A, satagarii B, sa . . . . rii [sagagorii O2] O1, sadacarii XY) et certi Alanorum cum duce suo nomine Candac Scythiam minorem inferioremque Moesiam acceperunt. ... ib. 272 Postquam ergo firma pax Gothorum cum Romanis effecta est, videntes Gothi non sibi sufficere ea quae ab imperatore acciperent simulque solitam cupientes ostentare virtutem, coeperunt vicinas gentes circumcirca praedari, primum contra Sadagis (satagis O, satagas B, sadages XZ, sagades Y, sadares A), qui interiorem Pannoniam possidebant, arma moventes. ... ib. 273 quod conperto Gothi ibi, ubi erant, expeditionemque solventes, quam contra Sadagis (sadages AXZ, sagades Y, satagas B) collegerant, in Hunnos convertunt et sic eos suis a finibus inglorios pepulerunt, ut iam ex illo tempore qui re­manserunt Hunni et usque actenus Gothorum arma formident. The view of Wagner is unfounded because of the mere fact that the variants of the latter name can be understood only if we consider the original form to have been *Satagares or *Sadagares: sadares A < *sada[ga]res; sadages XZ (A in 273) < *sadag[ar]es; sagades Î¥ < sadages < *sadag[ar]es; satagas Î' < *sataga[re]s; satagis Ο < *satag[ar]es. The fact that the names Sadagarii (Satagarii) - *Sadagares (*Sata­gares) have been inflected in different declensions is by no means an obstacle to their identification, for the same inconsistency also appears in Jordanes in the inflection of other names, e. g. Antes (Get. 34, 35, 119) - Anti (Get. 247), Bulgares (Rom. 388, Get. 37) - Bulgari (Rom. 363), Venethae (Get. 34) - Venethi (Get. 119).

I also hold the view that the σαγάδαρες (σαδάγαρεσ A) mentioned in Iul. Ep. 75 cannot be separated from the Sadagarii (*Sadagares) of Jordanes: `ιδο`υ γ`αρ πα~ν γένος βαρβάρων μέχρις ´ορίων `ωκεανου~ ποταμου~ δωρά μοι κομίζον ´η~κε παρ`α ποσ`ι τοι~ς `εμοι~ς, ´ομοίως δ`ε κα`ι σ α γ ά δ α ρ ε ς (σαδάγαρεσ α) ο´ι παρ`α τ`ον δάνουβιν `εκτραφέντες, ο´ι ε`υμορφοποικιλοκαθαρόμορφοι, ο´ι~ς ο`υκ `έστι θέα ´ομοιοειδής άν&ρώπων, άλλα μορφή `αγριαίνουσα. Ο´ύ~τοι κατ`α τ`ην `ενεστω~σαν προκαλινδου~νται `ίχνεσι τοι~ς `εμοι~ς, ´υπισχνούμενοί μοι ποιει~ν `εκει~να, ´άπερ τη,~ `εμη,~ αρμόζει βασιλεία. Although Bidez and Cumont like previous editors have chosen the form σαγάδαρες in their text, I am fully convinced that the variant σαδάγα­ρεσ must be given preference because it corresponds exactly to the form used by Jordanes. It may also be noticed that the people mentioned in Iul. Ep. 75 lived παρ`α τ`ον δάνουβιν, and can therefore equally well be located in Pan­nonia interior, occupied by the *Sadagares of Jordanes. In these circumstances the etymology given by Abaev for σαγάδαρες must be rejected as being based on an incorrect reading of the MSS.6

Zeuss has also connected the Sadagarii of Jordanes with the σαργάτιοι (var. σαγάρτιοι) of Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10 and the Sargetae of Amm. 22, 8, 38 and he thinks that the name may be of Iranian origin.7 It should be noticed that Zeuss did not know the variant σαγάρτιοι because the editions of Wilberg (1838) and Nobbe (1843) in Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10 give only the reading σαργάτιοι. Like his predecessors, Müller (1883) has chosen σαργάτιοι for his text, but the variant σαγάρτιοι draws from him the comment: »Num eadem gens sint σαγάρτιοι Mediae (Ptol. Geog. 6, 2, 6; Hdt. 1, 125) quaeritur».8 The difference between the views of Zeuss and Müller is that the former only speaks of the name, whereas Müller thinks it possible that the tribe itself might have had a common origin (»eadem gens») with the σαγάρτιοι in Media.

As for the Sargetae of Ammianus, Th. Mommsen was already led to the conclusion that in 22, 8, 38 Ammianus derived his information from Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10, a conclusion implying that the Sargetae, σαργάτιοι, are identical.9 Polaschek accepts the identification but thinks that the immediate source of Ammianus was a chorography based on Ptolemy, not Ptolemy himself.10

It seems to me that the suggestion of Zeuss about the identity of the Sadagarii (Iord. Get. 265) with the σαργάτιοι, var. σαγάρτιοι, (Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10) is supported by the fact that both names appear in connection with that of the Alani: Iord. Get. 265 Sadagarii et certi Alanorum - Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10 μεταξ`υ δ`ε τω~ν `αλανω~ν κα`ι τω~ν ´αμαξοβίων καρίωνες κα`ι σαργάτιοι. They can also be easily connected with each other phonetically. In order to establish the value of the variant σαγάρτιοι, the same name known from Media must be examined briefly.11

The name σαγάρτιοι appears in Herodotus three times: 1, 125 σαγάρτωι; 3, 93 σαγαρτίων (σαργατίων ABC); 7, 85 σαγάρτιοι (σαργάτιοι RSV).12 Ptolemy (apart from Geog. 3, 5, 10) has it once: Geog. 6, 2, 6 σαγάρτοι. Stephanus of Byzantium (s. v.) mentions a peninsula in the Caspian Sea by the name σαγαρτία and its inhabitants as σαγάρτιοι. The Greek names enumerated have been connected with Asagarta, the province in North-Western Persia, known from the inscriptions of Darius I.13 On the evidence of these inscriptions it is certain that in Herodotus the form σαγάρτιοι is to be regarded as the right one. Consequently, the variant σαργάτοοι in Hdt. 3, 93 and 7, 85 is only a corrupted form of it, i. e. σαργάτιοι has developed from σαγάρτιοι, not vice versa. Since even Ptolemy's MSS. have the same two forms, σαργάτιοι - σαγάρτνοι in Geog. 3, 5, 10, it seems to me reasonable to accept the latter as the correct one. However, it cannot be denied that the Greeks may have used both forms alongside each other.

Provided that the reading σαγάρτιοι is given preference in Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10, the Sadagarii (Satagarii) - *Sadagares (*Satagares) of Iord. Get. 265, 272-273 may have developed from it in the following manner: σαγάρ­τιοι has been changed by metathesis to *σατάργιοι, the existence of which is to some extent suggested by Plin. nat. 6,22 Satharchei; *σατάργιοι was used as a parallel form alongside the original σαγάρτιοι, and finally these two forms were mutually contaminated to σαταγάριοι (= Iord. Get. 265 Satagarii, 272-273 *Satagares, Iul. Ep. 75 σαδάγαρες). To summarize the development: 1) σαγάρτιοι > *σατάργιοι (metathesis), 2) σαγάρτωι + *σατάργιοι > σατα-γάρ-ιοι (contamination).

On the evidence presented above, I am of the opinion that Zeuss' sugges­tion concerning the identity of the Sadagarii - Satagarii (Iord. Get. 265) and the σαργάτιοι ~ σαγάρτιοι (Ptol. Geog. 3, 5, 10) can with good reason be accepted. This identification suggests that the name is of Iranian origin. Its etymology must, of course, be determined on the basis of the primary form σαγάρτιοι, not its corruptions. The etymologies discussed by Wagner must be rejected because they are based on a secondary reading.14 The only suggestion worthy of notice is that of R. G. Kent, who derives Asagarta from Iranian asan- 'stone' + *garta- 'cave' (cf. Sanskrit gárta-) and translates it as 'Land of Stone-Gave Dwellers'.15 The same explanation is given by Chr. Bartho­lomae, who further thinks that the name of the province comes from that of its inhabitants.16 In accordance with this etymology, the name σαγάρτιοι can be translated as 'Stone-Cave Dwellers'. I do not think, however, that there is any reason for regarding the σαγάρτιοι of Media as the same tribe as those known in Europe, a possibility which, Muller thought worth considera­tion. As the name σαγάρτιοι seems to be the Iranian equivalent of the Greek name τρωγλοδύται, τρωγοδύται,17 it may have appeared indepen­dently in both areas, i. e. it may have been attached to those Iranian tribes of whom it was characteristic to dwell in caves independent of their tribal relationships.

In RE I A, 2498 s. v. Sargatioi there is a reference to the article on the Satarchae in RE II A, 60, but under this heading the Ptolemaic name in question has been neglected altogether. Nevertheless, I think it most likely that the names Satarchae and σαργάτιοι, σαγάρτιοι are of the same origin. This is suggested above all by the fact that according to Mela 2, 1, 10 the Satarchae used to live in caves and dugouts,18 and therefore the designation 'cave-dwellers' would apply to them quite well. It can be assumed that the original σαγάρτιοι has been changed by metathesis to *σατάργιοι, as was suggested above, and this form has been connected by popular etymology with the Greek `αρχή or `αρχαι~ος, which would explain the ch. 19

The name Sarmatae Argaragantes (Argarag-Antes) remains to be discussed in this connection. According to Amm. 17, 13, 4 (quoted above on p. 140) the Sarmatae Limigantes and Argaragantes lived along the river Parthiscus (Theiss), which is not far from Lower Moesia and Pannonia, occupied by the Sadagarii of Jordanes. The variants of the name Argaragantes in the MSS. of Hieron. Chron. are: ardaragantes B, arcaragantes P, argaragantes (argarag i. Ras.) N. The etymology given by Vernadsky 20 for the first part of the name is based on a form Acaragantes which Helm, the most recent editor of the Chronicle of Hieronymus, has not even included in his critical apparatus. Since it is quite evident that the beginning of the name has been corrupted, the variant ardaragantes Î' might perhaps be emended to *Sadagar-Antes. Were it possible to establish this emendation by further evidence, the free Sar­matians, who ruled over the Slavonic Limig-Antes would be connected by name with the Sadagarii - Satarchae, who could then be regarded as rem­nants of the Royal Scythians. As for the Satarchae of Callistratus, this hypo­thesis was even suggested by their geographical position.



1 DA III, 51.
2 Minns, Scythians and Greeks p. 127 thinks that »the Scythae Satarchae in the Crimean steppe may be either relics of Scyths or a Sarmatian tribe»; Werner (AGAR p. 139, 4) regards the Satarchae as Sarmatians, but v. Barloewen (ib. p. 61, 9) suggests that the Spali were a Hunnic tribe. For the Satarchae see also: Weissbach, RE II A, 60; Kiessling, RE VIII, 1150; FGrH, commentary on no. 433; Rostovtzeff, Skythien und der Bosporus I, 10 ff., 45, 64 (n. 1), 87 (n. 1); Heeren, De chorographia pp. 84 f.
3 In Plin. nat. 4, 85 the MSS. read sataucis ED saraucis R, which Müllenhoff loc. cit. (n. 1) corrected to Satarcis (abl.): iugum ipsum Scythotauri tenent; cluduntur ab occidente Cherroneso Nea, ab ortu Scythis Satarcis.
4 Getica p. 7 n. 16.
5 Die Deutschen p. 709.
6 'Osetinskij jazyk i fol'klor I, 163, 179; Vasmer, Die Iranier p. 49 also mentions this name, but he does not give it any etymology; as he does not know the variant σαδάγαρες, he separates it from Sadagarii, which he explains as 'inhabitants of the hundred mountains' ('Bewohner der 100 Berge'), = satagairya.
7 Die Deutschen p. 703.
8 Ptol. Geog. vol. I: 1, 430.
9 Hermes 16, 1881, 614.
10 RE Suppl. X, 767.
11 For the sources see Weissbach, RE I A, 1736 f. and Herrmann, ibid. 1737 ff.
12 The variants have been taken from the critical apparatus of C. Hude.
13 Weissbach and Herrmann, loc. cit.; Kent, Old Persian p. 173.
14 Getica p. 7 nn. 16, 18.
15 Loc. cit.
16 Altiranisches Wörterbuch p. 207.
17 For this name see p. 123 above.
18 Satarchae . . . demersis in humum sedibus, specus aut suffossa habitant.
19 For similar explanations of other names see Vasmer, Die Iranier pp. 7, 31.
20 The Origins of Russia p. 70, quoted on p. 140 n. 3 above.


σαγάδαρες (σαδάγαρεσ A)
Julian, Letter XL (this must be it)
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/208/2080113.htm
Dubious!
'For lo! every tribe of barbarians to the shores of ocean has come to lay its gifts before my feet. So too the Sagadares who dwell beyond the Danube, wondrous with their bright tattooing, and hardly like human beings, so wild and strange are they, now grovel at my feet, and pledge themselves to obey all the behests my sovereignty imposes on them.'

Jordanes
http://tech.dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/cybalist/message/66855

So Satarchae, Sadagarii, Sagartioi, Sargetae and more are just several names for the same people. Are there more?

It seems Pekkanen derives all the various forms of the names of this Iranian upper layer / nomadic people, descendants of the Royal Scythians, from *(a)sagart-.
Now this is just too tempting:

*asagart- -> Ásgarð-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asgard
with the relevant quotes:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Heimskringla/Ynglinga_Saga#Of_the_People_of_Asia.
'Of the People of Asia.
The country east of the Tanaquisl in Asia was called Asaland, or Asaheim, and the chief city in that land was called Asgaard. In that city was a chief called Odin, and it was a great place for sacrifice. It was the custom there that twelve temple priests should both direct the sacrifices, and also judge the people. They were called Diar, or Drotner, and all the people served and obeyed them. Odin was a great and very far-travelled warrior, who conquered many kingdoms, and so successful was he that in every battle the victory was on his side. It was the belief of his people that victory belonged to him in every battle. It was his custom when he sent his men into battle, or on any expedition, that he first laid his hand upon their heads, and called down a blessing upon them; and then they believed their undertaking would be successful. His people also were accustomed, whenever they fell into danger by land or sea, to call upon his name; and they thought that always they got comfort and aid by it, for where he was they thought help was near. Often he went away so far that he passed many seasons on his journeys.'

I can't see anything in that description that would be improbable for a ruler of an Iranian upper layer / nomadic people.

I'll attempt an etymology myself:

Snorri calls his people men of Asia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia#Etymology
'The word Asia originated from the Greek word `ασία first attributed to Herodotus (about 440 BC) in reference to Anatolia or - in describing the Persian Wars - to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece and Egypt. Herodotus comments that he is puzzled as to why three women's names are used to describe one enormous and substantial land mass (Europa, Asia, and Libya, referring to Africa), stating that most Greeks assumed that Asia was named after the wife of Prometheus (i.e. Hesione), but that the Lydians say it was named after Asias, son of Cotys, who passed the name on to a tribe in Sardis. Even before Herodotus, Homer knew of two figures in the Trojan War named Asios; and elsewhere he describes a marsh as ασιος (Iliad 2, 461). In Greek mythology, "Asia" (`ασία) or "Asie" (`ασίη) was the name of a Nymph or Titan goddess of Lydia.[8]'
...
Alternatively, the etymology of the term may be from the Akkadian word (w)aşû(m), which means 'to go outside' or 'to ascend', referring to the direction of the sun at sunrise in the Middle East and also likely connected with the Phoenician word asa meaning east. This may be contrasted to a similar etymology proposed for Europe, as being from Akkadian erÄ"bu(m) 'to enter' or 'set' (of the sun).
T.R. Reid supports this alternative etymology, noting that the ancient Greek name must have derived from asu, meaning 'east' in Assyrian (ereb for Europe meaning 'west').[6] The ideas of Occidental (form Latin Occidens 'setting') and Oriental (from Latin Oriens for 'rising') are also European invention, synonymous with Western and Eastern.[6] Reid further emphasizes that it explains the Western point of view of placing all the peoples and cultures of Asia into a single classification, almost as if there were a need for setting the distinction between Western and Eastern civilizations on the Eurasian continent.
...
However, this etymology is considered doubtful, because it does not explain how the term "Asia" first came to be associated with Anatolia, which is west of the Semitic-speaking areas, unless they refer to the viewpoint of a Phoenician sailor sailing through the straits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.'

de Vries
'austr - 2 'east',
Icel. austur, Faroe eystur, Norw. aust(er), OSw. oster, Sw. östr, ODa. ostær, Da. øst(er).
- > lp. austa (Qvigstad 95); > ne. ON. Owston, Austwick (Mawer 3).
- OE easter, eastre "easter"), OFr. ōstr, OS OHG ōstar,
cf. Got. Austro-gothi, Ostrogothae 'East Goths'.
- Lat. aurora 'dawn', auster 'south wind',
Gr. α`ύριον 'morning', Hom. `ηώς 'dawn',
Sanskrit uşās 'dawn', ucchati 'it dawns',
Lit. au~šta 'it dawns', aušrà f. "dawn", Latv. austrs 'east wind', austrums m. 'east' (IEW 86-7). '

from *aNs- -> *aus-?


The original form of the toponym/ethnonym, might thus be *aNsa-gart- "east fort/court"
Perhaps *aNsaN-gart -> *asaŋart- -> *samart- -> Sarmat-, with folk-etymological side-form(from sauro- "lizard", ommat- "eye") Sauromat- ?
cf. the nasal of
Avestan ušå:, acc. ušåŋhəm, gen. ušaŋhō "dawn" (Pokorny);
and note also aug- "shine"; see' ibd., best explained (I think) from *aN- -> *aŋ- -> *aNg- -> *aug-, the above root as an s-stem *aN-s- -> *aus-


The latest news on the Sarmatians seems to be that they did not as earlier assumed arrive in the Ukrainian steppe from the east, but were a local group which displaced the Scythians, probably in the first century BC.
http://www.pontos.dk/publications/books/bss-8-files/bss-8-03-mordvintseva
If so the description of Ásgard is a description of the rise of the Sarmatians.


Torsten