Page:Modern Greek folklore and ancient Greek religion - a study in survivals.djvu/263

 Then follow a series of instances from various parts of the world which amply justify this estimate of the relations between conquerors and conquered. But in applying the principle thus obtained to the case of the Centaurs Prof. Ridgeway goes a little further. 'As it is therefore certain that aboriginal tribes who survive in mountains and forests are considered not only possessed of skill in magic, but as also bestial in their lusts, and are even transformed into vipers and wild beasts by the imagination of their enemies, we may reasonably infer from the Centaur myth that the ancient Pelasgian tribes of Pelion and Ossa had been able to defy the invaders of Thessaly, and that they had from the remotest times possessed these mountains.

'We can now explain why they are called Pheres, Centauri and Magnetes. Scholars are agreed in holding that Pheres ([Greek: phêres]) is only an Aeolic form for [Greek: thêres], "wild beasts." Such a name is not likely to have been assumed by the tribe itself, but is rather an opprobrious term applied to them by their enemies. Centauri was probably the name of some particular clan of Magnetes .'

Prof. Ridgeway then, as I understand, believes the Centauri to have been named Pheres or 'Beasts' by their enemies because they were bestial in character, and supports his view by the statement which I have italicised. On this point I join issue.

First, the phrase in question is based upon one only out of the many instances which he adduces as evidence of the relations between invaders and aborigines—and that the most dubious, for it depends upon a somewhat arbitrary interpretation of a passage of Procopius. 'He wrote,' says Prof. Ridgeway, 'in the sixth century of Britain thus: "The people who in old time lived in this island of Britain built a great wall, which cut off a considerable portion of it. On either side of this wall the land, climate and everything are different. For the district to the east of the wall enjoys a healthy climate, changing with the seasons, being moderately warm in summer and cool in winter. It is thickly inhabited by people who live in the same way as other folk." After enumerating its natural advantages he then proceeds to say that "On the west of the wall everything is quite the opposite; so