ISSEDONES  , an

ancient people of Central Asia at the end of the trade route leading north-east from Scythia (q.v.), described by Herodotus (iv . 26) . The position of their country is fixed as the Tarym basin by the more precise indications of Ptolemy, who tells how a Syrian merchant penetrated as far, as Issedon . They had their wives in common and were accustomed to slay the old people, eat their flesh and make cups of their skulls . Such usages survived among Tibetan tribes and make it likely that the Issedones were of Tibetan race . Some of the Issedones seem to have invaded the country of the Massagetae to the west, and similar customs are assigned to a section of these . (E . H . M.) On the origin of the name, see the article by H . W . Hogg, Ency . Bib. col .

2290; E .

Meyer, Israeliten, p . 536 seq .