--- In cybalist@..., tgpedersen@... wrote:
> From when does Jordanes count Gothic kingship? From the arrival at
> Gothiscandza or does he include the time in Scandinavia.
>
Hi Torsten,
I'm sorry it took so long for me to anwer this. I won't come up with
any excuses.
But a cause for it that one might ask How does Jordanes *know* that
the kingship is exacly 2030 years. In addition to all other reasons
to question the credibility of his writing.
Now to your question:
Jordanes writes:
"And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race, which had long held
sway, was at last overcome in almost its two thousand and thirtieth
year by that conquerer of many nations, the Emperor Justinian,
through his most faithful consul Belisarius. He gave Vitiges the
title of Patrician and took him to Constantinople, where he dwelt for
more than two years, bound by ties of affection to the Emperor, and
then departed this life."
One way one can iterpret this is that he is talking about the Goths
as the race that conquers nations, and since he in an earlier passage
writes:
"Now from this island of Scandza, as from a hive of races or a womb
of nations, the Goths are said to have come forth long ago under
their king, Berig by name. As soon as they disembarked from their
ships and set foot on the land, they straightway gave their name to
the place. And even to-day it is said to be called Gothiscandza. (26)
Soon they moved from here to the abodes of the Ulmerugi, who then
dwelt on the shores of Ocean, where they pitched camp, joined battle
with them and drove them from their homes. Then they subdued their
neighbors, the Vandals, and thus added to their victories. But when
the number of the people increased greatly and Filimer, son of
Gadaric, reigned as king--about the fifth since Berig--he decided
that the army of the Goths with their families should move from that
region."
where it seems as if he knows nearly nothing about the time in
Scandza and that this Berig is leading the tribe that conquers
nations, and that the tribes not being the one that conquers nations,
seem to be the ones left behind in Scandza.
Maybe it's possible to interpret him differently, but I think I'm for
now satisfied with this interpretation.
Knowing that I haven't discussed the whole of Getica:
BTW Itook my quotes from this translation:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/texts/jordgeti.html#pref
Best wishes
Anders