GEORGIAN NAMES IN ANCIENT UKRAINE

In the ancient Greek colony of Olbia in Ukraine there have been found many marble tombstone inscriptions, mostly dedicated to gods. Among the names mentioned in such inscriptions are the following:

Πουρφακης Σωμαχου – Purfakes Somakhou Ραοδμηος Κολχου – Raodmeos Kolkhou

Raodmeos Kolkhou is notable for being another proof of the presence of the Kartvelians in Ukraine, in this case, the Kolkhians. But Purfakes Somakhov is an even more valuable find.

The word "somakh" is not found in Greek dictionaries. It is in Georgian dictionaries, where it means "Armenian" (სომეხი [somekh]).

The same inscription contains another name - Somakhos Sanagou (Σωμαχος Σαναγου). Whether "Somakhos" and "Somakhou" are related to the Armenians can be verified through the surname "Sanagou". This is indeed an Armenian root, the surname "Sanagyan" is found in Google more than 3500 times.

Thus, there can be no doubt: Purfakes Somakhou and Somakhos Sanagou are Armenians who lived on the territory of Ukraine in ancient times and were called by the local Greeks - attention! - by the Georgian word "somekhi".