Integrating Magna Dacia : a narrative reappraisal of Jordanes
The aim of this study is to propose a new interpretation of Jordanesâ famous work, De Origine Actibusque Getarum, commonly known as Getica. The traditional view concerning the De Origine postulates that Jordanes was trying to devise a mythical, glorious history for the Goths, based on Greek and Latin texts, as well as what could have been âreal elements of Gothic tradition.â A number of scholars have also investigated the dependence of the De Origine on the lost Historia Gothorum, written by Cassiodorus â a high-ranking officer of the Ostrogothic court. Because Jordanes affirms, in the preface of the De Origine, that he was asked to abridge the Cassiodorian opus, many are led to believe that our author was able to transmit the Historia Gothorum to some extent. This thesis will counter those two views by proposing a narrative interpretation of the De Origine: my analysis is focused on the rhetorical strategies and textual choices of Jordanes. I argue that Jordanesâ usage of the ethnonym Geta, usually viewed as a classicising synonym of Goth, is, in fact, a way to link a number of different people that inhabited the Balkans throughout history: Dacians, Getae, Scythians, Goths, Gepids, and Huns. The
Vieira Pinto, OtĂĄvio Luiz
Integrating Magna Dacia : a narrative reappraisal of Jordanes. The aim of this study is to propose a new interpretation of Jordanesâ famous work, De Origine Actibusque Getarum, commonly known as Getica. The traditional view concerning the De Origine postulates that Jordanes was trying to devise a mythical, glorious history for the Goths, based on Greek and Latin texts, as well as what could have been âreal elements of Gothic tradition.â A number of scholars have also investigated the dependence of the De Origine on the lost Historia Gothorum, written by Cassiodorus â a high-ranking officer of the Ostrogothic court. Because Jordanes affirms, in the preface of the De Origine, that he was asked to abridge the Cassiodorian opus, many are led to believe that our author was able to transmit the Historia Gothorum to some extent. This thesis will counter those two views by proposing a narrative interpretation of the De Origine: my analysis is focused on the rhetorical strategies and textual choices of Jordanes. I argue that Jordanesâ usage of the ethnonym Geta, usually viewed as a classicising synonym of Goth, is, in fact, a way to link a number of different people that inhabited the Balkans throughout history: Dacians, Getae, Scythians, Goths, Gepids, and Huns. The
integrating dacia narrative reappraisal aim_study propose_new interpretation famous work commonly_know traditional_view concern postulate try devise mythical glorious history base greek_latin text well could real element tradition number_scholar also_investigate dependence lose historia write high ranking officer court affirms preface ask opus many lead believe author able transmit historia extent counter view propose narrative interpretation analysis focus rhetorical_strategy textual choice argue usage usually view fact way link number_different people inhabit balkans throughout_history