Ancient Greek place names 'corrupted by the Tartars'
Editorial contextIn a note on Strabo's temple of Achilles at the mouth of the Sea of Azov, the translators quote the French scholars Du Theil and Peyssonel, who wondered whether the Tatar fort of 'Achou' was the ancient Achilleum, its Greek name worn down in Tatar mouths. It is a small example of how Tatar place names were layered over Greek ones on the Black Sea coast.
Is not the fort of Achou, which is 8 leagues more to the east on the Palus Maeotis, the true Achilleum, the name being corrupted and abridged by the Tartars?
Footnote by the 1854 translators (H. C. Hamilton and W. Falconer), quoting Peyssonel via Du Theil
About Tatars of the Azov coast (Crimean or Nogai), as seen by eighteenth century French scholars
Keep in mind
Editorial conjecture, not Strabo's text.