SAKALIBA

The term Sakaliba, used in Arabic sources to refer to the land of the Slavs, not only has Kartvelian origins but also serves as the etymological foundation for the term "Slavs." Moreover, the meaning of its root offers a compelling historical explanation.

To trace the linguistic evolution from Sakaliba to Slaviani, we must first recognize that Sakaliba is likely a modified form of the Kartvelian toponym Sakalebo. In Kartvelian, the root kalebi is the plural of kali, meaning "woman," allowing Sakalebo to be translated as "country of women." Interestingly, in the 19th century, Georgians used the term sakalebo to denote the women’s quarters in a house, reinforcing the cultural relevance of this interpretation.

The connection between Sakaliba and the broader nomenclature of the Slavs becomes clearer when we consider related terms. The Byzantine designation for the Slavs, Sklavini, is undeniably linked to the modern term "Slavs." A slightly less obvious but equally valid connection exists between Sklavini and Saklabi, a variant of Sakaliba used by Arabic writers such as Abd Ar-Rashid Al-Bakuvi to refer to the Slavs. The consonant sequences sklv in Sklavini and sklb in Saklabi demonstrate a clear phonetic correspondence, with only minor shifts in articulation. This linguistic chain can be summarized as follows:

• SLAVIANI (Slavs)
• SKLAVINI (Byzantine term)
• SAKLABI (Arabic variant)
• SAKALIBA (Arabic term)
• SAKALEBO (Kartvelian origin)

From the original Kartvelian root kalebi, only the consonant l persists through these transformations, a testament to the enduring influence of the root across languages.

This brings us to the question: why would the Slavic lands be referred to as the "country of women"? Two historical explanations stand out. First, Slavic women have long been celebrated for their beauty, attracting suitors from across the ancient world—a reputation that may have contributed to such a designation. Second, the "country of women" could be linked to the Amazons of Herodotus, a legendary tribe of female warriors said to have resided in the region of Azov, Ukraine. This connection gains further intrigue when we consider the related term Samotkani (see a corresponding article).

The Kartvelian etymology of Sakaliba not only redefines our understanding of the term "Slavs" but also highlights the deep historical and cultural associations between the Slavic lands and the concept of a "country of women," possibly rooted in ancient traditions and mythologies of the region.