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Tacitus on Germany
by Tacitus
Translated by Thomas Gordon
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
The dates of the birth and death of Tacitus are uncertain； but it is
probable that he was born about 54 A。 D。 and died after 117。 He was a
contemporary and friend of the younger Pliny； who addressed to him
some of his most famous epistles。 Tacitus was apparently of the
equestrian class； was an advocate by training； and had a reputation as
an orator； though none of his speeches has survived。 He held a number
of important public offices； and married the daughter of Agricola； the
conqueror of Britain； whose life he wrote。
The two chief works of Tacitus； the 〃Annals〃 and the 〃Histories；〃
covered the history of Rome from the death of Augustus to A。 D。 96；
but the greater part of the 〃Histories〃 is lost； and the fragment that
remains deals only with the year 69 and part of 70。 In the 〃Annals〃
there are several gaps； but what survives describes a large part of
the reigns of Tiberius； Claudius； and Nero。 His minor works； besides
the life of Agricola； already mentioned； are a 〃Dialogue on Orators〃
and the account of Germany； its situation； its inhabitants； their
character and customs； which is here printed。
Tacitus stands in the front rank of the historians of antiquity for
the accuracy of his learning； the fairness of his judgments； the
richness； concentration； and precision of his style。 His great
successor； Gibbon； called him a 〃philosophical historian； whose
writings will instruct the last generations of mankind〃； and Montaigne
knew no author 〃who； in a work of history； has taken so broad a view
of human events or given a more just analysis of particular
characters。〃
The 〃Germany〃 is a document of the greatest interest and importance；
since it gives us by far the most detailed account of the state of
culture among the tribes that are the ancestors of the modern Teutonic
nations； at the time when they first came into account with the
civilization of the Mediterranean。
TACITUS ON GERMANY
The whole of Germany is thus bounded； separated from Gaul； from
Rhoetia and Pannonia； by the rivers Rhine and Danube； from Sarmatia
and Dacia by mutual fear； or by high mountains： the rest is
encompassed by the ocean； which forms huge bays； and comprehends a
tract of islands immense in extent： for we have lately known certain
nations and kingdoms there； such as the war discovered。 The Rhine
rising in the Rhoetian Alps form a summit altogether rocky and
perpendicular； after a small winding towards the west； is lost in the
Northern Ocean。 The Danube issues out of the mountain Abnoba； one very
high but very easy of ascent； and traversing several nations； falls by
six streams into the Euxine Sea； for its seventh channel is absorbed
in the Fenns。
The Germans； I am apt to believe； derive their original from no other
people； and are nowise mixed with different nations arriving amongst
them： since anciently those who went in search of new dwellings；
travelled not by land； but were carried in fleets； and into that
mighty ocean so boundless； and； as I may call it； so repugnant and
forbidding； ships from our world rarely enter。 Moreover； besides the
dangers from a sea tempestuous； horrid and unknown； who would
relinquish Asia； or Africa； or Italy； to repair to Germany； a region
hideous and rude； under a rigorous climate； dismal to behold or to
manure ＇to cultivate＇ unless the same were his native country？ In
their old ballads （which amongst them are the only sort of registers
and history） they celebrate /Tuisto/； a God sprung from the earth； and
/Mannus/ his son； as the fathers and founders of the nation。 To
/Mannus/ they assign three sons； after whose names so many people are
called； the Ingaevones； dwelling next the ocean； the Herminones； in
the middle country； and all the rest； Instaevones。 Some； borrowing a
warrant from the darkness of antiquity； maintain that the God had more
sons； that thence came more denominations of people； the Marsians；
Gambrians； Suevians； and Vandalians； and that these are the names
truly genuine and original。 For the rest； they affirm Germany to be a
recent word； lately bestowed： for that those who first passed the
Rhine and expulsed the Gauls； and are now named Tungrians； were then
called Germans： and thus by degrees the name of a tribe prevailed； not
that of the nation； so that by an appellation at first occasioned by
terror and conquest； they afterwards chose to be distinguished； and
assuming a name lately invented were universally called /Germans/。
They have a tradition that Hercules also had been in their country；
and him above all other heroes they extol in their songs when they
advance to battle。 Amongst them too are found that kind of verses by
the recital of which （by them called /Barding/） they inspire bravery；
nay； by such chanting itself they divine the success of the
approaching fight。 For； according to the different din of the battle
they urge furiously； or shrink timorously。 Nor does what they utter；
so much seem to be singing as the voice and exertion of valour。 They
chiefly study a tone fierce and harsh； with a broken and unequal
murmur； and therefore apply their shields to their mouths； whence the
voice may by rebounding swell with greater fulness and force。 Besides
there are some of opinion； that Ulysses； whilst he wandered about in
his long and fabulous voyages； was carried into this ocean and entered
Germany； and that by him Asciburgium was founded and named； a city at
this day standing and inhabited upon the bank of the Rhine： nay； that
in the same place was formerly found an altar dedicated to Ulysses；
with the name of his father Laertes added to his own； and that upon
the confines of Germany and Rhoetia are still extant certain monuments
and tombs inscribed with Greek characters。 Traditions these which I
mean not either to confirm with arguments of my own or to refute。 Let
every one believe or deny the same according to his own bent。
For myself； I concur in opinion with such as suppose the people of
Germany never to have mingled by inter…marriages with other nations；
but to have remained a people pure； and independent； and resembling
none but themselves。 Hence amongst such a mighty multitude of men； the
same make and form is found in all； eyes stern and blue； yellow hair；
huge bodies； but vigorous only in the first onset。 Of pains and labour
they are not equally patient； nor can they at all endure thrift and
heat。 To bear hunger and cold they are hardened by their climate and
soil。
Their lands； however somewhat different in aspect； yet taken all
together consist of gloomy forests or nasty marshes； lower and moister
towards Noricum and Pannonia； very apt to bear grain； but altogether
unkindly to fruit trees； abounding in flocks and herds； but generally
small of growth。 Nor even in their oxen is found the usual
stateliness； no more than the natural ornaments and grandeur of head。
In the number of their herds they rejoice； and these are their only；
these their most desirable riches。 Silver and gold the Gods have
denied them； whether in mercy or in wrath； I am unable to determine。
Yet I would not venture to aver that in Germany no vein of gold or
silver is produced； for who has ever searched？ For the use and
possession； it is certain they care not。 Amongst them indeed are to be
seen vessels of silver； such as have been presented to their Princes
and Ambassadors； but holden in no other esteem than vessels made of
earth。 The Germans however adjoining to our frontiers value gold and
silver for the purposes of commerce； and are wont to distinguish and
prefer certain of our coins。 They who live more remote are more
primitive and simple in their dealings； and exchange one commodity for
another。 The money which they like is the old and long known； that
indented ＇with milled edges＇； or that impressed with a chariot and two
horses。 Silver too is what they seek more than gold； from no fondness
or preference； but because small pieces are more ready in purchasing
things cheap and common。
Neither in truth do they abound in iron； as from the fashion of their
weapons may be gathered。 Swords they rarely use； or the larger spear。
They carry javelins or； in their own language； /framms/； pointed with
a piece of iron short and narrow； but so sharp and manageable； that
with the same weapon they can fight at a distance or hand to hand；
just as need requires。 Nay； the horsemen also are content with a
shield and a javelin。 The foot throw likewise weapons missive； each
particular is armed with many； and hurls them a mighty space； all
naked or only wearing a light cassock。 In their equipment they show no
ostentation； only that their shields are diversified and adorned with
curious colours。 With coats of mail very few are furnished； and hardly
upon any is seen a headpiece or helmet。 Their horses are nowise signal
either in fashion or in fleetness； nor taught to wheel and bound；
according to the practice of the Romans： they only move them forward
in a line； or turn them right about； with such compactness and
equality that no one is ever behind the rest。 To one who considers