"alex_lycos" <
altamix@...> March 01, 2003
Subject: Re: [tied] RE: Two questions
As far I know, Prophyrogenitus wrote about everything within Empire in his
work, about folks and stuff.
"The information assembled in the De Administrando Imperio has been gathered
at different dates from different sources, and the product is not a book in
which the materials have been digested and co-coordinated by an author; it
is a collection of files which have been edited only perfunctorily." [Arnold
Toynbee, "Constantine Porphyrogenitus and his World", 1973, page 465].
Similar criticisms had been voiced earlier by J.B. Bury [in Byzantinische
Zeitschrift, XIV, pages 511-570], and by C.A. Macartney, trying to sort out
Constantine's contradictory statements about the Magyar migrations: "...We
shall do well to remember the composition of the De Administrando Imperio -a
series of notes from the most various sources, often duplicating one
another, often contradicting one another, and tacked together with the
roughest of editing" [C.A. Macartney, "The Magyars in the Ninth Century",
Cambrige, 1930, page 98].
Another remark that should be made is regarding to the translation/editor &
translator(s) of the original greek text of "De Administrando Imperio"
[Constantine Porphirogenitus, De Administrando Imperio, edited by Gyula
Moravcsik, translated by Romilly J. H. Jenkins, Dumbarton Oaks Texts (Corpus
Fontium Historiae Byzantinae), 1967, 354 pages, ISBN: 0-88402-021-5; Book
Code: MODA].
This involve the city of BEOGRAD quoted in the translation as one of the
croat cities because the greek word "BELIGRADON" has been translated as
"BELGRADE". All the cities quoted as croat cities in DAI are grouped along
the Adriatic coast [N of Split, towards Istria]. There exists another city
of the similar name / BIOGRAD, today BIOGRAD NA MORU / that is located near
the Adriatic coast, in close proximity to these croat cities. So, the greek
word "BELIGRADON" was wrongly translated as "BELGRADE" [today Beograd]
rather than "BIOGRAD". Personally, I think that there can be 2 explanations:
-the translator(s) was not aware of the existence of this smaller Biograd
and did a mistake;
-the translator(s) have purposely provided a less probable translation [due
political reasons?].
S o r i n
keeping an open mind