etymology of Belarus

[Edward M Dumanis]

Dr. Andrij Hornjatkevyc wrote:

> This may be a bit far fetched, but I have heard from my colleague Dr.
> Tom Priestly that colours were used as markers for the points of the
> compass.
> (If I am in error here, then the fault is mine, and not Dr. Priestly's.)
> The colours are: N - white, W - red, S - black, and E - green. The
> reference point is the centre of Ancient Rus' - Kyiv. White Rus'
> (Belarus')
> and the White Sea are to the N, the Black Sea is to the S, the Cherven'
> cities (Ruthenia rubra) is to the W. Sadly, the system does not work for
> the E, there is no *Green Rus'.



I am in doubt that the inhabitants of the Ancient Rus' had any knowledge
about the White Sea at that time. Is there any evidence of that?

Edward Dumanis <dumanis at acsu.buffalo.edu>

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