e know.*****
>>
>>(TG) In the Roman geographer Strabons writings it
>says
>> that the Goths belonged
>> to an association of Germanic tribes that was under
>> the Marcomanner Marbod
>
>******GK: Could you provide us with a reference? I
>don't remember this from Strabo but it may have
>slipped my mind.******
I quote from Strabo
"Strabo - Geographica
(Book 7, 1.3-1.5)
The Province of Germania
and Beyond
Strabo Geographica VII 1.3
(7.1.3) The first parts of this country are those that are next to the
Rhenus, beginning at its source and extending a far as its outlet; and this
stretch of river-land taken as a whole is approximately the breadth of the
country on its western side. Some of the tribes of this river-land were
transferred by the Romans to Celtica, whereas the others anticipated the
Romans by migrating deep into the country, for instance, the Marsi; and
only a few people, including a part of the Sugambri,1are left. After the
people who live along the river come the other tribes that live between the
Rhenus and the River Albis,2 and traverses no less territory than the
former.
Between the two are other navigable rivers also (among them the Amasias,3
on which Drusus won a naval victory over the Bructeri), which likewise flow
from the
south towards the north and the ocean; for the country is elevated towards
the south and forms a mountain chain4 that connects with the Alps and
extends towards the east as though it were a part of the Alps; and in truth
some declare that they actually are a part of the Alps, both because of
their aforesaid position and of the fact that they produce the same timber;
however, the country in this region does not rise to a sufficient height
for that.
Here, too, is the Hercynian Forest, and also the tribes of the Suevi, some
of which dwell inside the forest, as, for instance, the tribes of the
Coldui,6 in whose territory is Boihaemum,7 the domain of
Marabodus, the place whither he caused to migrate, not only several other
peoples, but in particular the Marcomanni, his fellow-tribesmen; for after
his return from Rome this man, who before had been only a private citizen,
was placed in charge of the affairs of state, for, as a youth he had been
at Rome and had enjoyed the favor of Augustus, and on his return he took
the rulership and acquired, in addition to the peoples aforementioned, the
Lugii (a large tribe), the Zumi, the Butones, the Mugilones, the Sibini,8
and also the Semnones, a large tribe of the Suevi themselves. However,
while some of the tribes of the Suevi dwell inside the forest, as I was
saying, others dwell outside of it, and have a common boundary with the
Getae.9 "
"8. Scholars have suggested different emendations for "Zumi," "Butones,"
"Mugilones," and "Sibini," since all these seem to be corrupt (see C.
Müller, Ind. Var. Lect., p 981). For "Butones" it
is fairly certain that Strabo wrote "Gutones" (the Goths). "
Tore
>
>> .(TG) In Tacitus "Annales" one can read that the
>> markomanner Catualda, before
>> he in year 19 demoted Marbod in Bohemia lived as a
>> refugee among the Goths.
>> The Goths had already than built up a position that
>> shows that they were
>> no new immigrants.
>
>*****GK: Actually this narrower point is a
>non-sequitur, since we know very well how very recent
>arrivals can instantly build up "a position": e.g. the
>Goths themselves in Scythia, the Avars, the Huns, the
>classical Scythians, etc etc.******
>>
>> Professor Birger Nerman had no objection to the idea
>> that the Gotic home
>> the island Skandia could be Gotland.
>
>*****GK: Why not?(rhetorical)*****
>
>> Tore
>