Dexippus and the Repelling of the Gothic Invasion in the Years 267–268 a New Piece of Evidence (Codex Vindobonensis Hist. Gr. 73, Ff. 192v–193r) with an Explanation of an Error Committed by the Author of the Historia Augusta (Ha Gall. 13, 7)

Abstract

Our knowledge about the life of the historian Dexippus is rather limited. In HA Gall. 13, 7 there is a mention of Dexippus’ participation in the repelling of a Gothic incursion to Greece in the end of Gallienus’ reign. This information is strange, because there is no reference to Dexippus’ leadership in this war in a honorific inscription dedicated to him by his children. Nonetheless many scholars believe that Dexippus organised the Athenian defence against the Heruli. In this paper a new hypothesis is presented. Fragments of the recently discovered Scythica Vindobonensia (which probably came from Dexippus’ Scythica) shed new light on the role of Dexippus’ in the repulsing of the Goth/Heruli invasion. The Scythica Vindobonensia mention a boeotarch for the fifth time named Dexippus as one of Greek leaders who helped the Roman army. This Dexippus could not be the same person as the Athenian historian. I suggest that the author of the Historia Augusta confused two men bearing the name Dexippus, the Athenian historian, and the boeotarch from Thebes.