COLCHIS, or Cotenos, now was an an ( lent kingdom of Asia, bounded on the cast by Iberia, on the south by Armenia and Pontus, on the west by the Euxine Sea, and on the north by Mount Caucasus. Its principal rivers, all of which disembogue themselves into the Euxinc, are the Ophis, the Cissa, the Phasis, the Cyancus, the Absarus, the Charistus, the Hypus, and the Corax. Its cities, which deserve notice, were Aca, the metropolis of the dynasty ; Pitymis, now Pitchinda ; thoscurias ; and Cvta, formerly Cuta, the birth place of Medea. The whole region, though remarkable for the number of its poisonous herbs, which perhaps gave to honey that bitter flavour which it is said to have pos sessed, was exceedingly fruitful in c's'eiy nece•.sary that could adininist• r to the comfort of its inhabitants ; and as it abounded in flax, hemp, wax, pitch, and it was not only well adapted, by means of the rivers which intersected it, for internal traffic, but likewise to carry on an extensive foreign trade by navigating the Euxine. Hence, along the shores of this sea, the Colchians csta• Wished many settlements, which served as marts for their various articles of commerce, and to which they export ed, not only the raw productions of the country, but also the goods which they manufactured, especially linens, which they carried to a great degree of perfection. They were no less famous for the exquisite figures of flowers and animals with which they variegated their cloths ; and for the beauty and durability of their colours, which no washing or length of time could efface. We may add, that the mines of gold, which enriched this territory, are said to have given occasion to the voyage of the Argo nauts, which we formerly described, and which became the subject of some of the most pathetic strains which ever flowed from the romantic Muses of Greece and Rome.
The most probable conjecture concerning the first inhabitants of Colchis, is, that they were a branch of the Cuthitcs, who, in the most remote antiquity, emigrated from their native country in Arabia, and settled there. Hence, though they were not the real descendants of Mizraim, who peopled Egypt, as has been generally thought, they were undoubtedly a kindred race, and bore a striking resemblance to them. Hcrodotus, not to mention Diodorus, Apollonius, Strabo, &c. who ap pear to have copied him, asserts that the Colchians resembled the Egyptians in their form and features ; in their woolly bair and dark complexion ; in their lan guage, laws, and manners ; in their manufactures and commerce. Nor can we omit, that this region, before
its name degenerated into Colchis, was denominated Cutcis, or Cutais ; and one of its chief cities, Cuta, or Cutaia ; appellations, in all probability, derived from Cush, the founder of the Cuthites. From Hcrodotus we likewise learn, that long after this emigration, Sesostris, king of Egypt, when warring with the Scythians, left a part of his army in Colchis to defend the passes, who set tled in that region ; and that colonies of the Ampreutx, the Lazi, the Heniochi, the lstri, the Marsi, the .)loschi, and the Manralx, from the last of whom sonic deduce the name of Mingrelia, at different periods, increased the original inhabitants of the country.
That Colchis was at first governed by independent princes, must be admitted, but their names and exploits have not descended to our times. Cates swayed the sceptre, when the Argonauts landed upon his shores, and deprived him of the golden fleece, and the beautiful Medea. At his death, according to Strabo, the kingdom was divided into several petty dynasties; but we find it again united in the time of Xenophors who informs us, that when he penetrated. under Cyrus, into Asia, a de scendant of Cates, who bore the same name, reigned there. Mithridatcs the Great, In his first career of vic tory, overran the country ; but when he was forced to yield to the superior &puny of Rome, the Colchians again asserted their freedom. Peace being obtained from Sylla, Alithridates led his forces to take vengeance on the Colchians, who, afraid of his arms, oflered to receive his son, who bore the name of his father, as their king, provided that the independence of the crown should be acknowledged. The king of Pontus seemingly agreed to this request, and the Colchians laid down their arms ; but the haughty soul of the invader cherished in secret a deep-rooted resentment, not only against the state who made the proposal, but against the son, who seemed to be preferred to himself. When the young prince was about to rake possession of his kingdom, his father, ) ielding to the dictates of jealousy and ambition, loaded him with fetters of gold, and at last put him to death.