Notes on Decius’ Gothic War in the Light of the New Fragments by Dexippus of Athens
Notes on Decius’ Gothic War in the Light of the New Fragments by Dexippus of Athens

Summary/Abstract: The paper examines the Gothic invasion in the mid-3rd century AD and the ways in which the newly-discovered fragments by Dexippus (Scythica Vindobonensia) complemented or altered the picture of the event known so far. Comparing the evidence in them with the information known from other sources about events during the last years of Philip the Arab and the rule of Trajan Decius led to the altering of some old theories about the course of events. The appearance of Ostrogotha (Ostroguthos) in the new fragments indicates that he was probably the leading figure in the Gothic incursions between 248 and 251 AD, and this clearly suggests Gothic ethnic belonging of the “Scythians” – as Dexippus referred to them.

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