Epiphanius of Salamis and the Scotti: New Evidence for Late Roman-Irish Relations

What is it about?

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. Keywords: Late Roman; Scotti; Irish; Epiphanius; Theodosius; Barbarian Conspiracy

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