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proceeded along Asia； as far as the river Tansis； and along
Europe to Cadiz； and settling themselves on the lands which they
light upon； which none had inhabited before； they called the
nations by their own names。 For Gomer founded those whom the
Greeks now call Galatians； ＇Galls；＇ but were then called
Gomerites。 Magog founded those that from him were named
Magogites； but who are by the Greeks called Scythians。 Now as to
Javan and Madai； the sons of Japhet； from Madai came the Madeans；
who are called Medes； by the Greeks； but from Javan； Ionia； and
all the Grecians； are derived。 Thobel founded the Thobelites； who
are now called Iberes； and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch；
now they are Cappadocians。 There is also a mark of their ancient
denomination still to be shown； for there is even now among them
a city called Mazaca； which may inform those that are able to
understand； that so was the entire nation once called。 Thiras
also called those whom he ruled over Thirasians； but the Greeks
changed the name into Thracians。 And so many were the countries
that had the children of Japhet for their inhabitants。 Of the
three sons of Gomer； Aschanax founded the Aschanaxians； who are
now called by the Greeks Rheginians。 So did Riphath found the
Ripheans； now called Paphlagonians； and Thrugramma the
Thrugrammeans； who； as the Greeks resolved； were named Phrygians。
Of the three sons of Javan also； the son of Japhet； Elisa gave
name to the Eliseans； who were his subjects； they are now the
Aeolians。 Tharsus to the Tharsians； for so was Cilicia of old
called； the sign of which is this； that the noblest city they
have； and a metropolis also； is Tarsus； the tau being by change
put for the theta。 Cethimus possessed the island Cethima： it is
now called Cyprus； and from that it is that all islands； and the
greatest part of the sea…coasts； are named Cethim by the Hebrews：
and one city there is in Cyprus that has been able to preserve
its denomination； it has been called Citius by those who use the
language of the Greeks； and has not； by the use of that dialect；
escaped the name of Cethim。 And so many nations have the children
and grandchildren of Japhet possessed。 Now when I have premised
somewhat； which perhaps the Greeks do not know； I will return and
explain what I have omitted； for such names are pronounced here
after the manner of the Greeks； to please my readers； for our own
country language does not so pronounce them： but the names in all
cases are of one and the same ending； for the name we here
pronounce Noeas； is there Noah； and in every case retains the
same termination。
2。 The children of Ham possessed the land from Syria and Amanus；
and the mountains of Libanus； seizing upon all that was on its
sea…coasts； and as far as the ocean； and keeping it as their own。
Some indeed of its names are utterly vanished away； others of
them being changed； and another sound given them； are hardly to
be discovered； yet a few there are which have kept their
denominations entire。 For of the four sons of Ham； time has not
at all hurt the name of Chus； for the Ethiopians； over whom he
reigned； are even at this day； both by themselves and by all men
in Asia； called Chusites。 The memory also of the Mesraites is
preserved in their name； for all we who inhabit this country ＇of
Judea＇ called Egypt Mestre； and the Egyptians Mestreans。 Phut
also was the founder of Libya； and called the inhabitants
Phutites； from himself： there is also a river in the country of
Moors which bears that name； whence it is that we may see the
greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river
and the adjoining country by the apellation of Phut： but the
name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons
of Mesraim； who was called Lybyos。 We will inform you presently
what has been the occasion why it has been called Africa also。
Canaan； the fourth son of Ham； inhabited the country now called
Judea； and called it from his own name Canaan。 The children of
these ＇four＇ were these： Sabas； who founded the Sabeans； Evilas；
who founded the Evileans； who are called Getuli； Sabathes founded
the Sabathens； they are now called by the Greeks Astaborans；
Sabactas settled the Sabactens； and Ragmus the Ragmeans； and he
had two sons； the one of whom； Judadas； settled the Judadeans； a
nation of the western Ethiopians； and left them his name； as did
Sabas to the Sabeans： but Nimrod； the son of Chus； staid and
tyrannized at Babylon； as we have already informed you。 Now all
the children of Mesraim； being eight in number； possessed the
country from Gaza to Egypt； though it retained the name of one
only； the Philistim； for the Greeks call part of that country
Palestine。 As for the rest； Ludieim； and Enemim； and Labim； who
alone inhabited in Libya； and called the country from himself；
Nedim； and Phethrosim； and Chesloim； and Cephthorim； we know
nothing of them besides their names； for the Ethiopic war（17）
which we shall describe hereafter； was the cause that those
cities were overthrown。 The sons of Canaan were these： Sidonius；
who also built a city of the same name； it is called by the
Greeks Sidon
Amathus inhabited in Amathine； which is even now called Amathe by
the inhabitants； although the Macedonians named it Epiphania；
from one of his posterity： Arudeus possessed the island Aradus：
Arucas possessed Arce； which is in Libanus。 But for the seven
others； ＇Eueus；＇ Chetteus； Jebuseus； Amorreus； Gergesus； Eudeus；
Sineus； Samareus； we have nothing in the sacred books but their
names； for the Hebrews overthrew their cities； and their
calamities came upon them on the occasion following。
3。 Noah； when； after the deluge； the earth was resettled in its
former condition； set about its cultivation； and when he had
planted it with vines； and when the fruit was ripe； and he had
gathered the grapes in their season； and the wine was ready for
use； he offered sacrifice； and feasted； and； being drunk； he fell
asleep； and lay naked in an unseemly manner。 When his youngest
son saw this； he came laughing； and showed him to his brethren；
but they covered their father's nakedness。 And when Noah was made
sensible of what had been done； he prayed for prosperity to his
other sons； but for Ham； he did not curse him； by reason of his
nearness in blood； but cursed his prosperity： and when the rest
of them escaped that curse； God inflicted it on the children of
Canaan。 But as to these matters； we shall speak more hereafter。
4。 Shem； the third son of Noah； had five sons； who inhabited the
land that began at Euphrates； and reached to the Indian Ocean。
For Elam left behind him the Elamites； the ancestors of the
Persians。 Ashur lived at the city Nineve； and named his subjects
Assyrians； who became the most fortunate nation； beyond others。
Arphaxad named the Arphaxadites； who are now called Chaldeans。
Aram had the Aramites； which the Greeks called Syrians； as Laud
founded the Laudites； which are now called Lydians。 Of the four
sons of Aram； Uz founded Trachonitis and Damascus： this country
lies between Palestine and Celesyria。 Ul founded Armenia； and
Gather the Bactrians； and Mesa the Mesaneans； i