GOTHI´NI
Eth.
GOTHI´NI or
GOTI´NI, a tribe on the east of the Quadi and Marcomanni, that is, in the extreme south-east of ancient Germany, who, according to the express testimony of Tacitus (
Germ. 43), spoke the Celtic language. Some believe that the Cotini, mentioned by Dio Cassius (71.12), and the
Κῶγνοι of Ptolemy (
2.11.21), are identical with the Gothini. Tacitus's description of their habitations, “Terga Marcomannorum Guadorumque claudunt,” is somewhat ambiguous, whence some have placed them on the Vistula, in the neighbourhood of Cracow, while others understand Tacitus to refer to the south-east of the Quadi and Marcomanni, that is, the country now called Styria. Others again regard the country about the river March as the original seats of the Gothini: and this view derives some support from the fact that the names about the Lunawald are Celtic, and that the mountain contains ancient iron mines; for Tacitus expressly states that the Gothini were employed in iron mines. (Comp. Wilhelm,
Germanien, p. 231, fol.; Duncker,
Orig. German. i. p. 55, foll.; Latham, on Tacit.
Germ. p. 156.)
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L.S]
