"Russia" is a relatively new name. Before that, our territory was recorded in the historical annals and put on geographical maps under completely different names.
1. Hyperborea
The legendary country of ancient Greek mythology. Many scientists argue that the Hyperboreans lived in the Russian North many thousands of years ago. It is interesting that even on many medieval maps these lands were designated as Hyperborea. The ancient Greek historian Diodorus of Siculus described the Hyperboreans as the darlings of fate, more precisely, the god Apollo, who often visited these lands and openly patronized Hyperborea. Diodorus wrote, not without envy: "Even death comes to the Hyperboreans as a deliverance from satiety with life, and they, having experienced all the pleasures, throw themselves into the sea."
2. Sarmatia
The borders of this country stretched from the Black Sea to the Urals. Some historians say that Sarmatia was settled by immigrants from the mythological Hyperborea, who drove out the Scythians and began to rule their population. It is interesting that many clans (coats of arms) of the Polish gentry believe that they originated precisely from the Sarmatians (the so-called Sarmatianism). By the way, Mikhailo Lomonosov, in contrast to the defenders of the Norman theory, believed that the origins of Russian statehood should be sought precisely in the Sarmatian tradition
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3. Tartary
European cartographers designated the territory of our country with this not innocuous name right up to the 19th century. Many Russian historians optimistically associated the name "Tartary" with the Tatar people. But it is unlikely that Western European geographers of the Middle Ages would have shared such a positive attitude with them, since they associated the name "Tartary" with Tartarus, the hell of ancient Greek mythology, where the god Kronos (aka Saturn) and other titans were cast down. We owe the localization of this lost place on the Russian Earth to astrologers, according to whose calculations, it is this territory that is ruled by the planet Saturn with all the ensuing consequences. It is curious that Nostradamus in his "Centuries" promised a happy ending to Tartarus, claiming that the land of Saturn at the end of time will almost wait for the Golden Age.
4. Guardariki
This is what the Normans and other Vikings called the current territory of Russia. From Icelandic the word "gardariki" can be translated as "country of cities". Considering the fact that the Normans, who have seen many countries and territories in their lifetime, named only Russia by their "city" name, then one can judge the high level of civilization of our ancestors.
5. Great Sweden
The famous Icelandic skald and politician Snorri Sturlusson, who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, called the European territory of the present Russian Federation Great Sweden (in Icelandic - Svitod). That is, to some extent, we, citizens of Russia, are Swedes. Only great, or great. This is how Skald describes Mother Russia in the collection of sagas “First Circle”: “To the north of the Black Sea stretches the Big or Cold Svitod. Some believe that the Great Svitod is no less than the Great Serkland (the Land of the Saracens), some compare it with the Great Bloland (Africa). The northern part of Svitiod is not inhabited due to frost and cold weather. There are many large kheradivs (cities) in Svitod. There are also many different peoples and many languages. There are giants and dwarfs, there are blue people and many different amazing peoples …”. Actually,since the days of Snorri Sturlusson, little has changed. Unless you rarely meet blue people.
6. As-Slaviya
This name was given to Russia by the Arab geographers El-Farsi and Ibn-Haukal in the 10th century. The capital of As-Slavia was the city of Salau. Many historians identify As-Slavia with the Novgorod land, and Salau with the legendary city of Slovensk, which was located not far from the current Veliky Novgorod. It is interesting that Arab historians still gave several names to Russian territories: Artania and Kuyava. The localization of Artania is still debated: some historians place it in the area of modern Ryazan. Kuyavu is clearly associated with the Kiev land
7. Muscovy
Here, it seems, everything is clear: Russia was called Muscovy thanks to its capital. True, a number of sources claim that the name Muscovy comes from Mosokh (or Meshech), the grandson of Noah. Say, he was the founder of the "Muscovite" people. It is interesting that this version was spelled out in the "Synopsis, or Brief Description of the Beginning of the Russian People", which was published in 1674 within the walls of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Many historians have gone further, claiming that the words "Muscovy" and "Moscow" have nothing to do with each other. If the name of the state came from a descendant of the Old Testament prophet, then the capital of this state - from a certain local god of the Meri tribe, which, as you know, was the natives of the land of the present Moscow region.