The Origin and Deeds of the Goths | Page 5

we enter on our history, we must describe the boundaries of this
land, as it lies.
[Sidenote: SCYTHIA]
V Now Scythia borders on the land of Germany as 30 far as the source
of the river Ister and the expanse of the Morsian Swamp. It reaches
even to the rivers Tyra, Danaster and Vagosola, and the great Danaper,
extending to the Taurus range--not the mountains in Asia but our own,
that is, the Scythian Taurus--all the way to Lake Maeotis. Beyond Lake
Maeotis it spreads on the other side of the straits of Bosphorus to the
Caucasus Mountains and the river Araxes. Then it bends back to the
left behind the Caspian Sea, which comes from the north-eastern ocean
in the most distant parts of Asia, and so is formed like a mushroom, at
first narrow and then broad and round in shape. It extends as far as the
Huns, Albani and Seres. This land, I say,--namely, Scythia, 31
stretching far and spreading wide,--has on the east the Seres, a race that
dwelt at the very beginning of their history on the shore of the Caspian
Sea. On the west are the Germans and the river Vistula; on the arctic
side, namely the north, it is surrounded by Ocean; on the south by
Persis, Albania, Hiberia, Pontus and the farthest channel of the Ister,
which is called the Danube all the way from mouth to source. But in
that region where 32 Scythia touches the Pontic coast it is dotted with
towns of no mean fame:--Borysthenis, Olbia, Callipolis, Cherson,
Theodosia, Careon, Myrmicion and Trapezus. These towns the wild
Scythian tribes allowed the Greeks to build to afford them means of

trade. In the midst of Scythia is the place that separates Asia and
Europe, I mean the Rhipaeian mountains, from which the mighty
Tanais flows. This river enters Maeotis, a marsh having a circuit of one
hundred and forty-four miles and never subsiding to a depth of less
than eight fathoms.
In the land of Scythia to the westward dwells, first of 33 all, the race of
the Gepidae, surrounded by great and famous rivers. For the Tisia flows
through it on the north and northwest, and on the southwest is the great
Danube. On the east it is cut by the Flutausis, a swiftly eddying stream
that sweeps whirling into the Ister's waters. Within these rivers lies
Dacia, encircled by the 34 lofty Alps as by a crown. Near their left
ridge, which inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of
the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occupying a great
expanse of land. Though their names are now dispersed amid various
clans and places, yet they are chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes. The
abode of the 35 Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the
lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as far as the
Vistula. They have swamps and forests for their cities. The Antes, who
are the bravest of these peoples dwelling in the curve of the sea of
Pontus, spread from the Danaster to the Danaper, rivers that are many
days' journey apart. But on the shore of Ocean, where 36 the floods of
the river Vistula empty from three mouths, the Vidivarii dwell, a
people gathered out of various tribes. Beyond them the Aesti, a subject
race, likewise hold the shore of Ocean. To the south dwell the Acatziri,
a very brave tribe ignorant of agriculture, who subsist on their flocks
and by hunting. Farther away and above 37 the Sea of Pontus are the
abodes of the Bulgares, well known from the wrongs done to them by
reason of our oppression. From this region the Huns, like a fruitful root
of bravest races, sprouted into two hordes of people. Some of these are
called Altziagiri, others Sabiri; and they have different dwelling places.
The Altziagiri are near Cherson, where the avaricious traders bring in
the goods of Asia. In summer they range the plains, their broad
domains, wherever the pasturage for their cattle invites them, and
betake themselves in winter beyond the Sea of Pontus. Now the
Hunuguri are known to us from the fact that they trade in marten skins.
But they have been cowed by their bolder neighbors.

[Sidenote: THE THREE ABODES OF THE GOTHS]
We read that on their first migration the Goths dwelt 38 in the land of
Scythia near Lake Maeotis. On the second migration they went to
Moesia, Thrace and Dacia, and after their third they dwelt again in
Scythia, above the Sea of Pontus. Nor do we find anywhere in their
written records legends which tell of their subjection to slavery in
Britain or in some other island, or of their redemption by a certain man
at the cost of a