Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus XXVII

Epiphanius of Salamis and the Scotti: New Evidence for Late Roman-Irish Relations

“…Marc. 27.8.5 with den Boeft et al 2009, 193–5. The evidence for a near-contemporary Roman triumph over the Franks, probably in mid- to late a.d. 366, is assessed by Demandt 1972, 82–4; Nixon and Rodgers 1994, 517–19.…”

“…Thompson 1947, 89–92; Sabbah 1978, 172–3; den Boeft et al 2011, 147–9, 161–3. Seager 1997 discerns a subversive undercurrent of criticism in Ammianus' presentation of the comes Theodosius; his arguments are not in my view persuasive; see also den Boeft et al 2009, 199.…”

“…prof. rel . 28.6, with Thompson 1990, 1–5; Birley 2007, 414–16, 426; den Boeft et al 2009, 190–1, 196; den Boeft et al 2011, 160–1.…”

“…Gallicanos vero tractusque Franci et Saxones, isdem confines … violabant .’ The text, including the ethnonyms, is transmitted without corruption. Radical textual emendations by Bartholomew 1984, 175 are neither necessary nor persuasive; see remarks by den Boeft et al 2009, 192.…”

Creating the Enemy: Ammianus Marcellinus' Double Digression on Huns and Alans (Res Gestae 31.2)

“…For a comparison (and inconsistencies) between the Gruethungi in 27.5.6 and 31.3–5, see Den Boeft et al . , 115–6; and the remarks by Sabbah (, 248–9 n.380), who points out their dwellings. I leave aside here the Gothic poeple of the Thervingi, mentioned in 3.4, 5.1 and 5.8, who thus present the same picture as their neighbours the Greuthungi (and whom Ammianus seems to mix up in 27.5.6).…”