Bibliography

Rance, Philip, “Epiphanius of Salamis and the Scotti: new evidence for late Roman-Irish relations”, Britannia 43 (2012): 227–242.

journal article

Citation details

Contributors

Rance (Philip)

Article

“Epiphanius of Salamis and the Scotti: new evidence for late Roman-Irish relations”

Periodical

Britannia 43 (2012)

Volume

43

Pages

227–242

BibTeX

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Description

Abstract (cited)

A survey of the written evidence for attacks by Scotti on fourth-century Roman Britain provides a historical context for the introduction of two hitherto overlooked references to Scotti in the works of Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis on Cyprus (c.a.d. 315–403). Examination of Epiphanius' Ancoratus and Panarion confirms that he inserted the ethnonym Σκόττοι into patristic source-material in the early 370s. These passages claim attention as unique testimony to the Scotti in Greek literature and the second earliest witness to this term in Roman sources. Their date prompts the conjecture that the barbarica conspiratio that beset Britain in A.D. 367–68/9 was a widely reported event even before its significance was magnified by Theodosian dynastic propaganda.

Subjects and topics

Headings

Roman Britain

Sources

Texts

History, society and culture

Agents

Epiphanius of SalamisEpiphanius of Salamis

Entry reserved for but not yet available from the subject index.

Keywords

Late Roman Scotti Irish Epiphanius Theodosius Barbarian Conspiracy