Abstract

AGUAYO HERNANDEZ, Amed. Magicians in Res Gestae of Ammianus Marcellinus. Nova tellus [online]. 2025, vol.43, n.2, pp.105-122.  Epub Sep 26, 2025. ISSN 0185-3058.  https://doi.org/10.19130/iifl.nt.2025.43.2/x001w03a250695.

It has often been said that the information presented by Ammianus Marcellinus in the so-called “Persian excursus” (Amm. 23.6) is only a summary of data taken from other Greek and Latin authors. However, by contrasting fragments of the excursus with Iranian texts, it can be seen at the same time that Amianus contributes with new information, and that some of his topics about Persians, although maybe inaccurate because of his cultural interpretation, contain certain data that cannot be so easily categorized as false. I will demonstrate it here by analyzing the passage about Persian magicians and their religious practices (Amm. 23.6.32-36).

Keywords : Ammianus; Fourth Century; Persians; Magicians; Alterity.

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