Lets Talk Adrianople

[Michael Kerr]

I understand that the term Ostrogoths & Visigoths came about much later and I find myself confused with the terms Greuthungi & Thervingi & their connections so I am on slippery ground here but in regard to the Amali clan, Hyun Jin Kim in his book mentions possible Alanic/Sarmatian/Gothic origins for the Amal clan. Intermarriages between the Goths and Alans who inhabited the Ukraine especially among the elite were widespread and took place between the two groups. Prominent Gothic and Alanic figures in 4th and 5th centuries AD were most often of mixed Alan-Gothic heritage. These Goths were so thoroughly Sarmatianized that Procopius would later argue that they were in fact separate from the Germanic peoples. Kim writes of the Amals.

So many East Gothic noble clans were in all probability of Alan or Sarmatian mixed origin and that the famous clan name Amal was possibly of Iranian origin from the Avestic ama meaning 'powerful, strong' which is also the name of a Mithra deity.

The later royal dynasty of the Amals showed all the features of a typical steppe people: mounted warfare, hunting, falconry, shamanism & the wearing of Iranian-Central Asian royal vestments.

So Jordanes although like Evan said garbles on about the mythic origins of the Amals there may have been some substance in possible Alan connections to the mythical ancestors of the Amal dynasty. Jordanes father was supposedly an Alan and he was secretary to the nephew of Candac who by the name seems to be Alanic. He makes no mention about the Amals being related to Ermaneric just on possible Alanic connections so I will stay clear of that one. Thats about it for my contribution to discussion.

Regards
Michael Kerr