- Mythical Colchian Golden Fleece
Colchians — 1) a collective name for ancient Caucasian tribes in southwestern Transcaucasia. In the 7th century BC, they formed a tribal union; from the 6th century BC — the Colchian Kingdom; 2) a tribe living in the lower reaches of the Phasis River (modern Rioni); 3) inhabitants of Colchis, a country south of the Caucasus Range on the eastern coast of the Pontus Euxinus (modern Black Sea).
"For the Colchians are evidently Egyptians: I understood this myself even before I heard it from others. Having become interested in this, I began to inquire about this kinship both in Colchis and in Egypt. The Colchians have preserved clearer memories of the Egyptians than the Egyptians of the Colchians. However, the Egyptians told me that, in their opinion, the Colchians trace their origin from the warriors of Sesostris' army. I myself came to the same conclusion because they are dark-skinned, with curly hair. However, this still proves nothing. After all, there are other peoples of the same appearance. The following arguments are much more substantial. Only three peoples on earth have from ancient times practiced circumcision: the Colchians, the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians. The Phoenicians and Syrians in Palestine themselves admit that they borrowed this custom from the Egyptians." — Herodotus "History" Book II, ch. 104.
"I will mention another feature of the similarity of the Colchians to the Egyptians. Only they and the Egyptians make linen in the same way. Likewise, their entire way of life and language are similar." — Herodotus "History" Book II, ch. 105.
Presumably, the Colchians spoke the Colchian language, related to Mingrelian-Laz, and by the name of this tribe, ancient authors called modern Abkhazia and Western Georgia Colchis (Greek: Κολχίς, Colchis, Georgian: კოლხეთი, Kolkheti).
In Urartian inscriptions of the 8th century BC, it was reported that the first unification of local tribes was Colcha. In the 6th century BC, the Colchian Kingdom was created here. In the 6th century BC, Scylacus lists in order the tribes of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, namely the Sindi, Cercetae, Toretae, Heniochi, Coraxi, Melanchlaeni, Geloni, and after them mentions the Colchians: "The Colchians. And after these Colchians are the polis of Dioscurias, and the Greek polis of Gyenos, and the river Gyenos, and the river Cherbius, the river Chore, the river Arius, the river Phasis and the Greek polis of Phasis, and the road up the river 180 stadia to a large barbarian city, from where Medea was; there is the river Ris, the river Ysis, the river Laistov, the river Apsar. After the Colchians live the Bizers and the river of the Daarans and the river of the Arians."
"Ashkharatsuyts. 7th century." Ed. Patkanov 1877: "Colchis (Κολχίς), i.e. Eger, is located east of the Pontic Sea, near Sarmatia, and is contiguous with Iberia and Greater Armenia. Eger is divided into four provinces: Manrili (Μάνραλοι), Egrevika (ʼΕκρηκτική), Laziv (Λάζοι, Lasica), Janiv, i.e. Chaldeans. In Colchis there are many mountains, rivers, cities, fortresses, as well as regions, villages, and trading places. Veria (ʼΙβηρία), i.e. Virk, to the east of Eger, adjacent to Sarmatia near the Caucasus, extends to the Albanian borders on the Kura River. In Veria are contained the following provinces: 1. Klardzhi, 2. Artagan, 3. Shavshet, 4. Javakhi, 5. Samtskhe, 6. Adjara, 7. Gorgovatiskh or Gorotis-khevi, 8. Tornis-khevi, 9. Mangliats-por, 10. Kvisha-por, 11. Bolno-por, 12. Trely, 13. Kangars, 14. Tashir, 15. Achai, 16. Guan, 17. Eriskhi, 18. Kudit, 19. Koskh, 20. Satskhumet, 21. Khanitskh. Cities: Tiflis, Shamsude, and Mtskheta (Μεστλτα), where the cross (of St. Nina) is kept. Rivers abound in fish."
VARIANT NAMES: Latin. Colchi, Kolchoi, Greek. Κολχοι.
Sources:
Ethnogenesis of the Abkhazians. D.A. Arshba, 2015