ABARIS, the philosopher, a native of Hyperborean Scythia, and the son of Seuthus. The period when he flourished is extremely doubtful, (Bishop Lloyd's Chronological .•1ccount if Pythagoras, v. 7.) and his history is so completely involved in fables, that Hero dotus himself did not venture to record them. This historian contents himself with relating the story of his carrying an arrow through the world, and living with out any sustenance. (Lib. iv. cap. 36. p. 296. edit. Wes selingii.) Herodotus, it would appear, was unacquainted with the most marvellous parts of the story ; for Jam blichus, who pretends to better information, affirms, that, upon this arrow, which Abaris had received froni the Hyperborean Apollo, he was conveyed through the air, like a witch on a broom-stick. (Vita Pythagor,e, p. 128.) At an advanced age, his countrymen sent him to Athens, in the character of an ambassador (Harpocra tionis Dictionariumin decem Rhetores,vocc Ag'agz;.); and, according to Strabo, (tom. i. p. 462) he recommended himself by his politeness, eloquence, and wisdom, to the esteem of the learned men of Greece. Having traver sed various countries, he returned home, in order to consecrate the gold, which he had collected, to the Hyperborean Apollo ; for he was one of the priests of this divinity. in his progress, he is reported, by Porphyry and Jamblichus, to have visited Pythagoras in Italy ; and to have been favoured with a sight of his golden thigh. That he was contemporary with this
philosopher, is very far from being certain ; but he at least appears to have been as great an impostor as him self. Sonic of the ancients considered him as a conjurer ; others with greater justice, as a mere cheat. Suidas mentions him as thc author of various works. Mr 'Poland supposes Abaris to have been a druid, and a native of the Hebrides. (Posthumous florks,vol. i. p. 161.) The same strange hypothesis has been adopted by the in dustrious Mr Carte (Hist. of England, vol. i. 52.); but it involves so many absurdities, that it seems hardly intitled to a serious refutation. We shall only oppose it by asking a single question. Ilimerius, the sophist, (alzud P/zotium, p. 1136.) extols Abaris for speaking pure Greek, which lie is said to have acquired by means of the intercourse between the Greeks and Hyper horeans. Did such a frequent intercourse subsist many hundred years before Christ, between the inhabitants of Greece and the Hebrides ? The most curious account of Abatis is to be found in Bayle's Dictionnaire His torique et Critique. See also Bruckeri Historic Critica Philos oP hi.e. (e)