Jordanes: Romana and Getica

by Jordanes, Pater Van Nuffelen (Translator), Lieve Van Hoof (Editor)

Of Gothic descent, Jordanes wrote a unique set of histories. The Getica narrates the history of the Goths from their earliest origins until the middle of the sixth century. Building on the lost history of the Cassiodorus, it is the earliest example of a history told from the perspective of one of the barbarian peoples establishing kingdoms in the fifth and sixth centuries. It had great influence on later medieval historians, on national histories of the nineteenth century and on modern accounts of Gothic history. The Romana is a survey of world and Roman history. Whilst largely dependent on traditional Roman histories and chronicles for events up to the fourth century, it contains much unique information for the last two centuries it narrates. This book offers the first translation into English of the Getica for a century and the first modern translation of the Romana. The introduction locates the Getica and the Romana in the context of ancient historiography, building a new picture of Jordanes as a historian and of the two works themselves. It also offers a detailed discussion of the sources used by Jordanes, suggesting possible ways to identify his debt to Cassiodorus. Extensive notes guide the reader through these fascinating but often complex texts.

Genres: Classics, History

480 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Jordanes- also referred as Jordanis or Jornandes- was a 6th century Roman bureaucrat, notarius or secretary to Gunthigis Baza, a magister militum.

Of Alan origins, his grandfather Paria is believed to have been secretary to Candac, a leader of the Alans.

Reviews

[Santiago González · Rating 2 out of 5]

La Romana es tan tipo crónica que es imposible enterarte si no sabes lo que ha pasado con antelación, bastante dura de leer, peor que epítomes típicos como Eutropio y Aurelio Víctor. Está bien que narra los dos lados y además de un periodo (post 410 hasta Justiniano) que es casi imposible de ver, pero es de agradecer.

Me ha interesado el hecho de que no siga para nada las convenciones de emperadores buenos y malos usuales, los buenos los despacha y tiene cosas curiosas como que elogia a Juliano el Apóstata a pesar de haber perseguido a cristianos.

La Gética le hago la reseña en la obra suelta.

[David Tavernier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jordanes gives us a contemporary's report of the activities of the Romans and their interaction with the Goths. In some cases he reports on information received from ancient sources, some of which are lost to us today, but were available in the 4th and 5th century.

He offers the reader a more accurate understanding of the conflicts, betrayals, and cooperation between Goths and Romans. One can also see relevance to today's conflicts with its inherent warnings. Very instructional for those with an interest in this era of ancient history.

[ConLaBuyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review specifically of the new Liverpool University Press translation of Romana and Getica.

This is an easily readable translation of a critical text from late antiquity, supplemented by copious notes, introductions, and appendices. This will be a great resource for anyone studying the later years of the Western Roman Empire and the period after its end. The price of this edition is nothing to sneeze at though, so get it through your library if possible.