So, how old is the city of Moscow, and who founded the city? Conventional wisdom says... in 2021 AD the city of Moscow is 874 years old.
1147 ADOriginally established in 1147, Moscow grew to become a prosperous and powerful city that served as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
The most linguistically well-grounded and widely accepted is from the Proto-Balto-Slavic root *mŭzg-/muzg- from the Proto-Indo-European *meu- "wet", so the name Moskva might signify a river at a wetland or a marsh.
Oleg became the ruler of all Russian lands, followed by Rurik’s son Igor. The extremely concise narrative clearly emphasizes an issue crucial for the justification of the prince’s authority: the unknown author traces Igor’s lineage back to the Roman emperor Augustus. Russia’s succession to Rome thus becomes a matter of fact rather than just a formula.
Above: Oleg Founds the City of Moscow bronze Medal - 880 AD - from the series of medals struck in the late 1700's, by G. C. Wäechter and S. Vasiliev.
The city of Moscow is supposed to be of great antiquity, though the first founder be unknown to the Russe. It seems to have taken the name from the river that runs on the one side of the town. Berosus the Chaldean in his 5th book tells that Nimrod (who other prophane stories call Saturn) sent...
The city was much enlarged by one Ivan Kalita, son to Daniel, that first changed his title of Duke into King: though that honor continued not to his posterity: the rather because he was invested into it by the Popes Legate, who at that time was Innocent IV about the year 1246, which was very much misliked by the Russe people, being then a part of the Eastern or Greek Church. Since that time the name of this city hath grown more famous, and better known to the world: insomuch that not only the province, but the whole country of Russia is termed by some by the name of Moscovia the Metropolite city.
KD question: The above-mentioned book was published in 1599. The city of Moscow was allegedly established in 1147. That would mean that in 1599 the city was 452 years old. When we compare this age to the oldest cities I mentioned above...
Extra: This here is in Latin. I have no idea what it says, but based on the words I see, it's about Russia, Moscus and Moscow.
NimrodPer the narrative, historians have failed to match Nimrod with historically attested figures. Nimrod may not represent any one personage known to history, and various authors have identified him with several real and fictional figures of Mesopotamian antiquity, including the Mesopotamian god Ninurta or a conflation of two Akkadian kings Sargon, his grandson Naram-Sin (2254–2218 BCE), and Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243–1207 BCE).
AshurPrior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, there was contention in academic circles regarding whether Ashur or Nimrod built the Assyrian cities of Nineveh, Resen, Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, since the name Ashur can refer to both the person and the country.
I don't have much to say about the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls. Here are a few links.
KD: Well, I am not sure what to think of it. If true, that would make Moscow (and Muscovy) 2500-3000 years older (TPTB Chronology), and on par with Assyria.
- In this article I will use the narrative compliant chronology.
1147 AD
- The first known reference to Moscow dates from 1147 as a meeting place of Yuri Dolgoruky and Sviatoslav Olgovich.
- At the time it was a minor town on the western border of Vladimir-Suzdal Principality.
- The chronicle says, "Come, my brother, to Moskov".
- In 1156, Knyaz Yury Dolgoruky fortified the town with a timber fence and a moat.
- When the Grand Duchy of Moscow evolved into the Tsardom of Russia, Moscow still remained as the political and economic center for most of the Tsardom's history.
- When the Tsardom was reformed into the Russian Empire, the capital was moved from Moscow to Saint Petersburg diminishing the influence of the city.
- Moscow
Prehistory
Archaeological digs show that the site of today's Moscow and the surrounding area have been inhabited since time immemorial. Among the earliest finds are relics of the Lyalovo culture, which experts assign to the Neolithic period, the last phase of the Stone Age.- Neolithic - The Neolithic period is the final division of the Stone Age.
- Stone Age - The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BCE and 2,000 BCE.
Etymology
The name of the city is thought to be derived from the name of the Moskva River. There have been proposed several theories of the origin of the name of the river. Finno-Ugric Merya and Muroma people, who were among the several pre-Slavic tribes which originally inhabited the area, called the river supposedly Mustajoki, in English: Black river. It has been suggested that the name of the city derives from this term.The most linguistically well-grounded and widely accepted is from the Proto-Balto-Slavic root *mŭzg-/muzg- from the Proto-Indo-European *meu- "wet", so the name Moskva might signify a river at a wetland or a marsh.
- The English names Moscow and Muscovy, for the city, the principality, and the river, descend from post-classical Latin Moscovia, Muscovia.
- In Latin, the Moscow principality was also historically referred to as Ruthenia Alba.
880 AD
There is more to be found in the magic box of Moscow’s legends. The Tale of Oleg, Founder of Moscow, otherwise called Of the Beginnings of the Sovereign Town of Moscow, which researchers also date back to the second half of the 17th century, credits the founding of Moscow to one of Rurik’s warlords, Prince Oleg, in the year 6388 (880).
Oleg became the ruler of all Russian lands, followed by Rurik’s son Igor. The extremely concise narrative clearly emphasizes an issue crucial for the justification of the prince’s authority: the unknown author traces Igor’s lineage back to the Roman emperor Augustus. Russia’s succession to Rome thus becomes a matter of fact rather than just a formula.
- Despite the fictional nature of these legends, historians have always given them some consideration. The first references to their texts can be found in Vasily Tatishchev’s works. Nikolai Karamzin, for his part, contemptuously called them fairy tales. In contrast, Ivan Zabelin, one of the first directors of the History Museum, was less categorical, admitting that these legends in their own manner actually reflect real events.
- Historians clearly have enough matter for discussion without having to consider legends. In addition to 880, 1147 and 1156, some sources, allegedly based on chronicles, mentioned other dates of Moscow’s birth, such as 1117 and 1140.
- This caused little concern until the 1840s when, in the run-up to the city’s 700th anniversary, the first serious discussion broke out on the pages of Moskovityanin, Moskovskiye Vedomosti and other periodicals.
- By the end of the 19th century, historians practically stopped arguing and adopted a sort of democratic pluralism, each abiding by his own viewpoint. Some of them sympathised with the version that attributed the creation of Moscow to Oleg, while others dismissed it as an invention of later-day scribes.
- The origins of Moscow: What archaeological finds, chronicles and urban legends tell us.
- Mature Oleg with horse and archer surveying the future site of Moscow.
Oldest Cities in the World
While I strongly disagree with the assigned dates (check out the link next to Athens), these are the official ages/dates provided to us by the PTB.- Jericho, Palestine - 5000 BCE
- Argos, Greece - 5000 BCE
- Byblos, Lebanon - 5000 BCE
- Athens, Greece - 4000 BCE - Ferdinand Gregorovius
- Susa/Shush, Iran - 4200 BCE
- Gaziantep, Turkey - 3650 BCE
- Luxor, Egypt - 3200 BCE
- Rayy, Iran - 3000 BCE
- Beirut, Lebanon - 3000 BCE
- Damascus, Syria - 3000 BCE
Moscow
The below excerpt was published in 1599 in a book titled The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation.
- Assyrius aka Ashur - a son of Shem.
- Medus aka Madai - a son of Japheth.
- Moscus aka Meshech - a son of Japheth.
- Magog - a son of Japheth
The city was much enlarged by one Ivan Kalita, son to Daniel, that first changed his title of Duke into King: though that honor continued not to his posterity: the rather because he was invested into it by the Popes Legate, who at that time was Innocent IV about the year 1246, which was very much misliked by the Russe people, being then a part of the Eastern or Greek Church. Since that time the name of this city hath grown more famous, and better known to the world: insomuch that not only the province, but the whole country of Russia is termed by some by the name of Moscovia the Metropolite city.
KD question: The above-mentioned book was published in 1599. The city of Moscow was allegedly established in 1147. That would mean that in 1599 the city was 452 years old. When we compare this age to the oldest cities I mentioned above...
- Why was the city of Moscow considered to be of great antiquity in 1559?
Nimrod
Ashur
I don't have much to say about the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls. Here are a few links.
- Exclusive: 'Dead Sea Scrolls' at the Museum of the Bible are all forgeries
- US museum Dead Sea Scroll collection found to be fakes
Moscus
In 1498 Annio da Viterbo published fragments known as Pseudo-Berossus, now considered a forgery, claiming that Babylonian records had shown a son of Japheth called Samothes had begun settling what later became Gaul in the 13th year of Nimrod. Later historians such as Raphael Holinshed (1577) identified Samothes as Meshech, and asserted that he first ruled also in Britain.- KD: 1498 vs "now considered". Hmm...
- Moreover, according to a legend first appearing in the Kievan Synopsis (1674), Moscow was founded by King Mosokh son of Japheth (i.e. Meshech), and was named for him and his wife, Kva.
- In this legend, they are also said to have had a son, Ya, and daughter, Vuza, who gave their names to the nearby Yauza River.
- Meshech - Wikipedia
KD: Well, I am not sure what to think of it. If true, that would make Moscow (and Muscovy) 2500-3000 years older (TPTB Chronology), and on par with Assyria.
