Jordanes

Jordanes, on his own background
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanes#Life
'The Sciri, moreover, and the Sadagarii and certain of the Alani with their leader, Candac by name, received Scythia Minor and Lower Moesia. Paria, the father of my father Alanoviiamuth (that is to say, my grandfather), was secretary to this Candac as long as he lived. To his sister's son Gunthigis, also called Baza, the Master of the Soldiery, who was the son of Andag the son of Andela, who was descended from the stock of the Amali, I also, Jordanes, although an unlearned man before my conversion, was secretary.'

Detschew
'δορ-, δόρυ-, Dor(i), δουρο-, Duro-, δουρα-, -δουρα-, -δουρο-, Diur-, δυρ- in
δορ-ζενθης, δορ-ζινθης, Dori-cetis, δορ-πανας, Dorpaneus, δορυ-πολις, δουρα-ζερις, Duro-steron, δουρο-στορον, Doroturma, Duro-steron (with the later forms Dorostolum, δορόστολςο, Doro-storum, δορύ-στολον, δωρό-στολος), δισκο-δουρα-τεραι, δισχο-δουρο-τεραι, Diur-danus, Diur-pagissa, Diur-paneus, δυρπαναις.
Cf. the Latin names Dura-tenus, Duranius, Duronius, Durius, which seem to be of Etruscan origin, Schulze ZGLE 355, 160. Perhaps root as in διρίσκος, δουρίσκος (cf the note on this toponym).'

and

'Diurdanus m. PN. - CIL 6, 2408. I 8: Ant. Diurdanus; 6, 3451: Aur. Diurdanus.'


I propose Diurdanus = Jordanes (perhaps he or whoever chose that particular form for its Biblical connotations). That would mean that his name was Thracian/Dacian/Getic(?), and that that ways his ethnic background. That might explain why he wanted to get the Getae into a story of the Goths.

BTW, AFAIK, secretary was not a job for a free man. Jordanes might have been a freedman.

cf the inscription
'Diurdano Decibali veteran(o) Q(uintus) Priscus filius' in
http://soltdm.com/langtdm/thes/d/decebalus.html

If it's third century CE as stated (as far as my Romanian allows me to interpret the text), it can't be
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decebalus
but the name is obviously attested for Dacians.


Torsten