The "Lesser Goths" of Jordanes

"tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@...>
<<I can't seem to find your "cow herders" in Jordanes... On the contrary
Jordanes describes an almost French situation.>>

On the contrary, Ulfila's Goths are specifically mentioned in Jordanes (or
what we've been given of him.)

And, nope, nothing "la-tee-da" about it. Actually, it's all just about as
"prestigious" as cow pastures and bumpkins who don't even know where wine
comes from.

Book LI (267): "There were other Goths also, called the Lesser, a [great?]
people whose priest and primate was Vulfila, who is said to have taught them
to write. And to-day they are in Moesia, inhabiting the Nicopolitan region as
far as the base of Mount Haemus. They are a numerous people, but poor and
unwarlike, rich in nothing save flocks of various kinds and pasture-lands for
cattle and forests for wood. Their country is not fruitful in wheat and other
sorts of grain. Certain of them do not know that vineyards exist elsewhere,
and they buy their wine from neighboring countries. But most of them drink
milk." (from the Mierow web version)

(BTW, the "great people" translation looks out of place and a bit like
someone trying to put a positive spin on this rather inauspicious appraisal
of those Goths from whom we mainly obtained Gothic. One might more
consistently read "populus immensus" as meaning either numerous or occupying
a large area.)

And also, one might, once again, see this segment as Jordanes trying to
distance himself from the old neigborhood and simple folk that may have once
been home.

Here's the Latin text I have:
("erant si quidem et alii Gothi, qui dicuntur minores, populus inmensus, cum
suo pontifice ipsoque primate Vulfila, qui eis dicitur et litteras
instituisse. hodieque sunt in Moesia regionem incolentes Nicopolitanam ad
pedes Emimonti gens multa, sed paupera et inbellis nihilque habundans nisi
armenta diversi generis pecorum et pascua silvaque lignarum; parum tritici
citerarumque specierum terras fecundas. vineas vero nec, si sunt alibi, certi
eorum cognoscent ex vicina loca sibi vinum negotiantes; nam lacte aluntur
plerique.")

Steve