Strabo and Tacitus on the beginnings of the history of the Czech Basin

Some notes on the issues reopened by Vladimír Salač

Abstract

In the paper some observations are presented concerning two accounts by ancient authors on the conditions in the Czech Basin during the period at the turn of calendar eras. Strabo (Geogr. VII 1,3) does not claim Quadi to be one of the Suebian tribes: both the terms he juxtaposes at the same level. Bouiaimon could have been situated in the territory of the former as well as of the latter. It is not clear from the same passage that only a part of Suebi was living in the Hercynian Forest, while the other part outside: it is clear only from the passage immediately following the one in question. Concerning Bouiaimon, Strabo very likely considered it a kingly seat and not a territory. The evidence for the latter produced or defended by some Czech scholars is not convincing and the new pieces introduced here are not themselves sufficient. Tacitus (Germ. 42,1) need necessarily not be understood as claiming Marcomanni to have themselves expelled Boii from Boiohaemum. His wording is not unambiguous, but at the same time it definitely could have been meant so, and Tacitus had no other way to naturally express such an idea, had he really this in mind.