Abaris the Hyperborean

Abaris the Hyperborean (Greek Ἀβάρις Ὑπερβορέος Abaris Hyperboréos ) was after the ancient Greek tradition, a legendary cleaning priest of the god Apollo. According to different sources of information he may have either in the 8th or the 7th or 6th century BC have lived. About him numerous miracle stories were told. Whether a historical person behind the stories, remains unexplained.

Tradition

According to the earliest surviving mention of Abaris Abaris the poet Pindar is the time of the last Lydian king Croesus, have so lived around the middle of the 6th century BC. Another reference comes from the historian Herodotus. According to him, Abaris was a Hyperboreans. But he wants to say anything about Abaris, since he apparently does not consider it a historical figure, and only mentioned that he should have been walking with an arrow in his hand over the earth without ever having something to eat. This message can already see clearly that Abaris was associated with the worship of Apollo, as the arrow is a symbol of the god, and the mythical Hyperboreans were considered Apollo worshipers. Plato called Abaris the Hyperborean in connection with Zalmoxis and mentioned him as a healer of diseases that should have caused this with the help of Zauberspüchen ( έπωδαί ) or meetings.

The orator Lycurgus of Athens reported the Hyperborean Abaris was while in his home a famine broke out, come to Greece, was here in the service of Apollo came, I learned from him the art of prophecy, and was then true saying pulled through Hellas. After the Apollo. mirab. 4 to Abaris, the Hyperborean priest of Apollo, who the Spartans defense victim ( κολυτήρια ) recommended that meant that the city was never again affected by the plague. Pausanias writes, Abaris the Hyperborean is said to have built a temple of Kore Soteira in Sparta, the other led back to the Thracian Orpheus.

Younger certificates make the Hyperborean Abaris a Scythian, as you equated the resident in northern Hyperboreans with the Scythians of the Russian steppes. In this sense, Strabo mentions the Abaris as an example of a virtuous Scythians, who had always been readily eaten by the Greeks.

The Neoplatonist Porphyry and Iamblichus report almost identical to the purported meeting of Abaris with Pythagoras. These accounts go back to Heraclides Ponticus, who designed the first Abarislegende; it is no longer preserved. Thus Abaris was a priest of the Hyperborean Apollo. He was Pythagoras met and had recognized in him Apollo because he had seen his golden leg. Then Abaris had his arrow, on which he flew through the air, returned to the Apollo = Pythagoras and had become his disciples. Hecataeus of Abdera has also taken into account in his book on the Hyperborean Abaris.

In several Christian authors Abaris is mentioned in connection with the discussion of the pagan religion as an example; so calls him Clement of Alexandria as diviners, Origen mentions his alleged flight to the arrow, Julius Maternus Firmicus writes Abaris creating a certain image to the gods. Finally Nonnus writes of Panopolis that Abaris flew on his arrow through the air.

The Byzantine encyclopedia Suda called Abaris a Scythian, son of Seuthes. The Suda writes to him in addition to the Scythian oracles to the wedding of the river works Hebrus, cleanings, a Theogony in prose and the arrival of Apollo among the Hyperboreans in verse.

Interpretation

Although due to the source location ( contradictory information, notices of far later times ) no reliable statements about Abaris are possible, the science of religion tends today to see the relationships of many motives of Abarislegende with phenomena of shamanism. This is also his alleged origin which is north of the Black Sea are looking for you need. In shamanism, as with Abaris of flying experience, healings, cleanings reported. The story with the golden thigh of Pythagoras also points in this direction.

Aftereffect

Geoffrey of Monmouth presented in 1138 in his book Historia Regum Britanniae is a connection between Bladdud, the legendary founder of the pre-Roman city of Bath, which was ascribed also the ability to fly, and Abaris ago. He is said to have visited according to the legend, as well as Abaris, Greece and have been inaugurated there in the mysteries. Maybe here two myths were mixed together and equated.

Abaris is a main character in the opera Les Boréades or the triumph of Abaris by the French composer Jean -Philippe Rameau ( 1763).

Abaris was also the religious name Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the Illuminati. Provides evidence of the tenth volume of Illuminatenakten which Goethe's accession declaration is. The files are written in German and embedded in black leather band is still in possession of Russia. The tenth volume with the patch in gold lettering lettering " Reverse and CVs " was until 1991 thought to be lost. To date, Russia refuses to handover to Germany and insists, as the documents were too important to the interests of their own country.