Quote:
"Phenotype of old Slavs, 6th to 10th centuries", by Łukasz M. Stanaszek.
I. Byzantine sources:
1. Procopius of Caesarea (6th century):
- "(...) Valerian chose one of the Sklaveni who are men of mighty stature. (...)"
- "(...) Nay further, they do not differ at all from one another in appearance. For they are all exceptionally tall and stalwart men, while their bodies and hair are neither very fair or very blonde, nor indeed do they incline entirely to the dark type, but they are slightly ruddy in color. (...)"
2. Theophilact Simokatta (describing events from year 595):
"(...) The Emperor was with great curiosity listening to stories about this tribe, he has welcomed these newcomers from the land of barbarians, and after being amazed by their height and mighty stature, he sent these men to Heraclea. (...)"
3. Theophanes the Confessor (describing the same event from year 595):
"(...) The Emperor was admiring their beauty and their stalwart stature. (...)"
4. Pseudo-Maurice (Strategikon) - late 6th century / early 7th century:
"(...) Tribes of Sclaveni and Antes (...) are very resistant to hardships, they easily endure both heat and cold, rain and lack of garment. (...)"
5. Constantine Porphyrogennetos, "De Administrando Imperio":
About ancestors of Balkan Croats and ancestors of Balkan Serbs:
"(...) their ancestors were Pagan Croats and Serbs, known also as White [Croats and Serbs]. Great Croatia, called also White [Croatia], until today is still Pagan, just like neighbouring [Lusatian / West Slavic] Serbs [Sorbs] (...)"
II. Muslim and Sephardi Jewish sources:
6. Al-Baladuri (late 7th century):
"(...) Slavs are a tribe of ruddy complexion and fair hair. (...)"
7. Ibn Qutajba (describing events from years 691 - 694):
"(...) If only Prince wanted, outside of his doors would be black Sudanians or ruddy Slavs (...)"
The same information is repeated also by 8. Al-Baladuri (9th century).
9. Al-Ahtal (late 7th century):
"(...) Birds of the desert saw in those people a crowd of fair-haired Slavs. (...)"
10. Jaqut (13th century, but using much older primary sources):
"(...) Slavs are a tribe of ruddy complexion and fair hair. (...)"
11. Ibn Al-Kalbi (late 8th century / early 9th century):
"(...) Slavs are a numerous nation, fair-haired and of ruddy [pink] complexion. (...)"
12. Al-Gahiz (early 9th century):
"(...) Among Slavs, abominable and ugly are their smoothness of hair [as opposed to curly hair] and delicateness, as well as blond or ruddy colour of their hair and beards, and also whiteness [bright blond colour] of their eyelashes (...)"
Al-Gahiz:
"(...) Tell me friend, after how many generations a Zang became black, and a Slav became white? (...)"
13. Abraham ben Jacob (years 965 - 966):
"(...) What is peculiar [when it comes to Slavs], most of Bojema people [Bohemians / Czechs] are of swarthy complexion and dark hair, while fair colors are rare among them [compared to frequencies among other West and East Slavs]. (...)"
Abraham ben Jacob:
"(...) Slavic people are often haunted by two diseases (...) these are two types of rash: redness and abscess (...)"
14. Ibn Al-Faqih (10th century):
"(...) There exist two kinds of Slavic people. First kind are people of swarthy complexion and dark hair. They live near the coast of the [Mediterranean] Sea. The other kind are fair people, who live inland. (...)"
Ibn Al-Faqih:
"(...) Inhabitants of Iraq are people (...) who are not born with hair colour intermediate between russet, blond, matt-white and white [bright blond], as it happens among children born from Slavic women. (...) People of Iraq are free from russet hair colour of Slavs. (...)"
15. Al-Masudi (10th century):
He writes that dominant complexion among Slavic people is fair, not dark.
III. German sources:
15. Saint Bruno of Querfurt:
He wrote that in Poland having a beard is a common custom among men.
Quote:
Menander Protector:
"(...) About the fourth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius Constantine, some hundred thousand Slavs [but 100,000 of just warriors, or men+women+children?] broke into Thrace, and pillaged that and many other regions. As Greece was being laid waste by the Slavs, with trouble liable to flare up anywhere, and as Tiberius had at his disposal by no means sufficient forces, he sent a delegation to the Khagan of the Avars [to ask them for help against the Slavs!]. (...)"
Indeed, the Avars initially became allies of the Romans against the Slavs! Only later - after defeating (and subjugating) some Slavic tribes, and negotiating peace with some other ones - the Avars turned against their former allies (the Romans) and - together with the Slavs - started attacking the Empire.
Not according to Underhill's study from 2014 - see the chart below (appendix to his 2014 study):