>
> I have to account for the large number of Germanic slaves (at least
> 30,000 under Crixus + 12,300 under Gannicus and Castus) in the
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Servile_War , (73-71 BCE).
> Since the Romans had had no war with Germani in the preceding time,
> these are most likely POWs from Burebista's victorious campaigns
> against the Germani, paid for by the coin hoards Crawford mentions.
****GK: I haven't made a special study of this, but have you any indication of the extent to which the Danubian Celts might have been involved in the slave trade at that time? I.e. the Taurisci and Boii and the Scordisci? And was the battle between Burebista and Critasirus a conflict between conflicting slave traders? How far would alternate merchants (Boian etc. need to travel to market?) One usually buries hoards in times of trouble too... Just a thought. But note also (cf.
that in the 2nd c. the Boii had expanded into Silesia, and were thus in a good position to do what you think Burebista did a little later... Which might be an explanation for your Crixus and Gannicus numbers.*****