A. B. Chernyak. On interpretation of the ethnonym Germani in Tacitus (Germ. 2, 5) (pp. 924–928)

Author

A. B. Chernyak (Institute for Linguistic Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences)

Keywords\n Tacitus; Germani; Tungri; topoi of ancient ethnography

Pages\n 924–928

Summary\n

The article analyzes an important passage from the second chapter of Tacitus’ Germania, where the historian discusses the ethnonym Germani in general, and its relationship with the ethnonym Tungri in particular. The author concludes that originally the ethnonym was Tungri, whereas the name Germani was applied to military units that took part in skirmishes with bordering tribes (such as Gauls). The confusion in Tacitus’ passage must be explained by the influence of ethnographical topos nomen gentis vs. nomen nationis.

References\n

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