- Apsilae. AI generated
Apsilae — a Scytho-Sarmatian tribe, localized in the region of Dioscurias (a city near modern Sukhumi). It was located north of the Colchians, at the mouth of the Corax River (modern Kodori). Ancient Greek geographers called them Coraxi. The Apsilae were the southern branch of the Abasgian tribe.
Apsilia (Abkhaz: Аҧстәыла) or Tsebelda — a late antique and early medieval state formation of the Abkhazian Apsilae tribe. Known since the 1st century AD. In the 730s, it was absorbed by the neighboring, stronger principality of Abasgia, on the basis of which, as well as Misiminia, the Abkhazian Kingdom later developed. It was located on the territory of modern Abkhazia along the Black Sea coast between the Psyrtskha River (near modern New Athos) and the Aaldzga River, also known under the historical name Tsebelda. It consisted of two historical regions — Guma and Abzhua. The most important cities and fortresses: Tusume, Tsibila, Pusta, Tsybykn, Skotor, Mokva. Capital — Sebastopolis. Ruling dynasty — the Julianids.
Archaeological and historical monuments of the Tsebelda culture have been studied since 1959.
The semi-independent rulers of Tsebelda were the Abkhazian princely family — Amarshan. The capital of the princely family's possessions was the village of Merkheul.
VARIANT NAMES: Latin. Apsilae, Absylae, Greek. Αψιλαι, Αψιλιοι, Russian. Apsily, Absily.
Sources:
Ethnogenesis of the Abkhazians. D.A. Arshba, 2015