What is "abasgoi"

The Abasgoi (; Greek: Αβασγοί, Abasgoi; compare Abkhaz Абазаа "the Abaza people") were one of the ancient tribes inhabiting western Abkhazia, who originally inhabited lands north of Apsilae, corresponding to today's Ochamchira District. In the 6th and 7th centuries they migrated northwards and occupied territory between Gumista and Bzyb rivers, while another tribe, the Sanigs, lived to the north of them.

The Abasgoi are considered the ancestors of modern Abkhazians, and the Georgian ethnonym apxazi "Abkhaz" is derived from the name. They are mentioned by Pliny the Elder, Strabo and Arrian; the 6th-century Byzantine historian Procopius wrote that they were warlike, worshipped tree deities and provided eunuchs to Justinian's court.