VARI´NI
Eth.
VARI´NI a German tribe mentioned by Pliny (
4.28) as a branch of the Vindili or Vandali, while Tacitus (
Germ. 40) speaks of them as belonging to the Suevi.
But they must have occupied a district in the north of Germany, not far from the coast of the Baltic, and are probably the same as the Pharodini (
Φαροδεινοί) of Ptolemy (
2.11.13), in the country between the Chalusus and Suebus; it is highly probable, also, that the Varni (
Οὐάρνοι) of Procopius (
B. Goth. 2.15, 3.35, 4.20, &c.) are the same people as the Varini. The Viruni (
Οὐίρουνοι) of Ptolemy (
2.11.17), who dwelt north of the Albis, seem to have been a branch of the Varini. (Comp. Cassiod.
Var. 3.3, where they are called Guarni; Wersebe,
Beschreib. der Gau zwischen Elbe, Saale, &c. p. 70.)
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