WHO GUIDED ALARIC THROUGH THERMOPYLAE? NOTE ON EUNAPIUS, VITAE SOPHISTARUM, VII,3,5 [476 DIDOT]

• Authors: Ivan PRCHLÍK
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article reacts to a recent attempt by Radislav Hošek to reinterpret Eunapius’ report on the gates of Greece having been open to Alaric ‘by the godlessness of those who wear the black robes’. According to the traditional interpretation it had been the Orthodox Christian monks, whom Eunapius had in mind, according to Hošek, however, these black robed individuals were to have been Thracian tribesmen, mentioned also by Plutarch. The article ponders the reasoning behind Hošek’s having abandoned the traditional interpretation and it appears unsubstantiated to the author. On the contrary, the arguments on which Hošek has based his new interpretation, in the author’s opinion come through as insufficient to justify the claim. Therefore, the article suggests a return to the traditional interpretation, which seems to mean less or even no inconvenience.

Keywords

EN

ALARIC; THERMOPYLAE; EUNAPIUS OF SARDIS; MONKS; THRACIANS

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 171-175

Contributors

author

Ivan PRCHLÍK

• Eirene, Kabinet pro klasická studia FLÚ AV ČR, Na Florenci 3, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic